Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions) Our first question comes from the line of Chris Manuel with KeyBanc Capital Markets. Please proceed with your question.
Chris Manuel - KeyBanc Capital Markets
Couple of questions for you. First you mentioned some price compression in Europe. Could you elaborate a little more there? Is this something that's just a beginning of the year event or is this something that's going to persist all year, help us a little more dialogue there please?
John Hayes
Yes, Chris, this is John. It was a little bit more of -- I'll call it the beginning of the year event. Recall that we make both aluminum and steel beverage cans over in Europe, and with the very strong increase in steel pricing that put a little price cost pressure in to the system. We expect that to be abating as I had mentioned in my prepared marks over the balance of year of though.
Chris Manuel - KeyBanc Capital Markets
Okay, that’s helpful. Then Ray you talk so fast. I'm just a simple guy, I get confused, but you talked about some benefits and inventories. And you talked about how inventories had hurt you a bit in some of the different divisions. And I think you were referring to more hurt in the aluminum side and some help in the tinplate side, if that sounds right. But can you help us balance as a whole how it was across the system. Do you look at the benefits in one side roughly equaling the other side?
Ray Seabrook
Yes, I tried to talk nice and slow, but I guess I'm just not slow enough, anyways.
Chris Manuel - KeyBanc Capital Markets
(Inaudible)
Ray Seabrook
I understand. Its a net gain. In other words that we had a little bit more in food than we did negatives in the beverage business.
Chris Manuel - KeyBanc Capital Markets
Okay, so across the whole system a slight gain. That's (tactical).
Ray Seabrook
Across the whole system, a gain, yes.
Chris Manuel - KeyBanc Capital Markets
Okay, last question I had was, as you talked about some of the plants closures and things you got going. Can you just refresh us? I think there have been a number of them both in the beverages and now in plastics and metal food. Now the cadence of the improvement from lower expenses i.e. plant closures and things as this year goes on 2009 and what carries over into 2010?
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