. a fifty-basis-point decrease in our discount rate would increase our 2018 pension and postretirement expense by approximately $ 38 million , and a fifty-basis-point increase in our discount rate would decrease our 2018 pension and postretirement expense by approximately $ 54 million . similarly , a fifty-basis-point decrease ( increase ) in the expected return on plan assets would increase ( decrease ) our 2018 pension expense by approximately $ 45 million . see item 8 , note 13