INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	14. INCOME TAXES Our effective income tax rates for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 were provisions of 32.2 percent and 31.8 percent, respectively, compared to provisions of 33.4 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012. The effective income tax rates were determined using the estimated annual effective tax rate for each period, after considering discrete items for each respective period. The effective income tax rates for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 were lower than the United States statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to various permanent differences including deductions for manufacturing activities and the favorable impact of changes in uncertain tax positions ($2.8 million and $3.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively). The effective income tax rates for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 were lower than the United States statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to provisions for state tax and various permanent differences including deductions for manufacturing activities, certain Merger-related costs and the favorable impact of changes in uncertain tax positions ($0.8 million and $5.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively).

INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

14. INCOME TAXES

Our effective income tax rates for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 were provisions of 32.2 percent and 31.8 percent, respectively, compared to provisions of 33.4 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012. The effective income tax rates were determined using the estimated annual effective tax rate for each period, after considering discrete items for each respective period. The effective income tax rates for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 were lower than the United States statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to various permanent differences including deductions for manufacturing activities and the favorable impact of changes in uncertain tax positions ($2.8 million and $3.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively). The effective income tax rates for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 were lower than the United States statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to provisions for state tax and various permanent differences including deductions for manufacturing activities, certain Merger-related costs and the favorable impact of changes in uncertain tax positions ($0.8 million and $5.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively).