Inventories and natural gas in storage

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Natural gas in storage for the Company's regulated operations is generally valued at lower of cost or market using the last-in, first-out method or lower of cost or net realizable value using the average cost or first-in, first-out method. The majority of all other inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the average cost method. The portion of the cost of natural gas in storage expected to be used within 12 months was included in inventories. Inventories on the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:


	September 30, 2021		September 30, 2020		December 31, 2020
	(In thousands)
Aggregates held for resale	$	183,693	$	168,132	$	175,782
Asphalt oil	32,964		27,587		28,238
Natural gas in storage (current)	28,683		27,135		21,919
Materials and supplies	27,253		26,609		25,142
Merchandise for resale	26,639		21,525		21,087
Other	13,053		15,235		18,999
Total	$	312,285	$	286,223	$	291,167

The remainder of natural gas in storage, which largely represents the cost of gas required to maintain pressure levels for normal operating purposes, was included in noncurrent assets - other and was $47.5 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and $48.3 million at September 30, 2020.