pre_text: Property and Equipment Property and equipment is recorded at cost and consists of furniture, computers, other office equipment, and leasehold improvements. We depreciate the cost of furniture, computers, and other office equipment on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (five years for office equipment, seven years for furniture and fixtures). Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of their useful lives or the term of the lease. Depreciation and amortization expense for 2019, 2018, and 2017 was approximately $8.0 million, $8.6 million, and $9.1 million, respectively, and was included in “Depreciation and amortization” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Amortization expense on intangible assets in 2019, 2018 and 2017 was immaterial. Property and equipment, at cost, consist of the following (in thousands):
table: December 31
table: 2019 2018
table: Office equipment $ 38,373 $ 39,633
table: Furniture and fixtures 5,017 4,610
table: Leasehold improvement 23,534 19,430
table: Property and equipment, gross 66,924 63,673
table: Less accumulated depreciation (44,199 ) (49,355 )
table: Property and equipment, net $ 22,725 $ 14,318
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What is the change in depreciation and amortization cost between 2019 and 2018?