pre_text: 13 . pension and other postretirement benefit plans the company has defined benefit pension plans covering eligible employees in the united states and in certain of its international subsidiaries . as a result of plan design changes approved in 2011 , beginning on january 1 , 2013 , active participants in merck 2019s primary u.s . defined benefit pension plans are accruing pension benefits using new cash balance formulas based on age , service , pay and interest . however , during a transition period from january 1 , 2013 through december 31 , 2019 , participants will earn the greater of the benefit as calculated under the employee 2019s legacy final average pay formula or their new cash balance formula . for all years of service after december 31 , 2019 , participants will earn future benefits under only the cash balance formula . in addition , the company provides medical benefits , principally to its eligible u.s . retirees and their dependents , through its other postretirement benefit plans . the company uses december 31 as the year-end measurement date for all of its pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans . net periodic benefit cost the net periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following components: .
post_text: the increase in net periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefit plans in 2013 as compared with 2012 is largely attributable to a change in the discount rate . the net periodic benefit cost attributable to u.s . pension plans included in the above table was $ 348 million in 2013 , $ 268 million in 2012 and $ 406 million in in connection with restructuring actions ( see note 3 ) , termination charges were recorded in 2013 , 2012 and 2011 on pension and other postretirement benefit plans related to expanded eligibility for certain employees exiting merck . also , in connection with these restructuring activities , curtailments were recorded in 2013 , 2012 and 2011 on pension and other postretirement benefit plans . in addition , settlements were recorded in 2013 , 2012 and 2011 on certain domestic and international pension plans . table of contents .
table: Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits
table: Years Ended December 31 2013 2012 2011 2013 2012 2011
table: Service cost $682 $555 $619 $102 $82 $110
table: Interest cost 665 661 718 107 121 141
table: Expected return on plan assets (1,097) (970) (972) (126) (136) (142)
table: Net amortization 336 185 201 (50) (35) (17)
table: Termination benefits 58 27 59 50 18 29
table: Curtailments (23) (10) (86) (11) (7) 1
table: Settlements 23 18 4 — — —
table: Net periodic benefit cost $644 $466 $543 $72 $43 $122
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. considering the years 2012 and 2013 , what is the increase observed in the service cost?