The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2016, compared with the three and nine months ended September 26, 2015, were (in thousands):

 

 

 

* The U.S. pension plan was terminated effective July 30, 2014 and, following receipt of a favorable Letter of Determination from the IRS (dated April 14, 2015), all liabilities of the plan were settled during the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

 

The expected rate of return assumption on U.S. pension assets was 3.90% in 2015. The expected return on foreign pension assets is 4

.95% and 5.39% in 2016 and 2015, respectively.