volume declines in cement , some agricultural products , and newsprint shipments partially offset the increases .operating expenses millions of dollars 2008 2007 2006 % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007 % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006 .
[['millions of dollars', '2008', '2007', '2006', '% (  % ) change 2008 v 2007', '% (  % ) change 2007 v 2006'], ['compensation and benefits', '$ 4457', '$ 4526', '$ 4535', '( 2 ) % (  % )', '-% ( - % )'], ['fuel', '3983', '3104', '2968', '28', '5'], ['purchased services and materials', '1902', '1856', '1756', '2', '6'], ['depreciation', '1387', '1321', '1237', '5', '7'], ['equipment and other rents', '1326', '1368', '1396', '-3 ( 3 )', '-2 ( 2 )'], ['other', '840', '733', '802', '15', '-9 ( 9 )'], ['total', '$ 13895', '$ 12908', '$ 12694', '8 % (  % )', '2% ( 2 % )']]
operating expenses increased $ 987 million in 2008 .our fuel price per gallon rose 39% ( 39 % ) during the year , increasing operating expenses by $ 1.1 billion compared to 2007 .wage , benefit , and materials inflation , higher depreciation , and costs associated with the january cascade mudslide and hurricanes gustav and ike also increased expenses during the year .cost savings from productivity improvements , better resource utilization , and lower volume helped offset these increases .operating expenses increased $ 214 million in 2007 versus 2006 .higher fuel prices , which rose 9% ( 9 % ) during the period , increased operating expenses by $ 242 million .wage , benefit and materials inflation and higher depreciation expense also increased expenses during the year .productivity improvements , better resource utilization , and a lower fuel consumption rate helped offset these increases .compensation and benefits 2013 compensation and benefits include wages , payroll taxes , health and welfare costs , pension costs , other postretirement benefits , and incentive costs .productivity initiatives in all areas , combined with lower volume , led to a 4% ( 4 % ) decline in our workforce for 2008 , saving $ 227 million compared to 2007 .conversely , general wage and benefit inflation and higher pension and postretirement benefits increased expenses in 2008 , partially offsetting these reductions .operational improvements and lower volume levels in 2007 led to a 1% ( 1 % ) decline in our workforce , saving $ 79 million in 2007 compared to 2006 .a smaller workforce and less need for new train personnel reduced training costs during the year , which contributed to the improvement .general wage and benefit inflation mostly offset the reductions , reflecting higher salaries and wages and the impact of higher healthcare and other benefit costs .fuel 2013 fuel includes locomotive fuel and gasoline for highway and non-highway vehicles and heavy equipment .diesel fuel prices , which averaged $ 3.15 per gallon ( including taxes and transportation costs ) in 2008 compared to $ 2.27 per gallon in 2007 , increased expenses by $ 1.1 billion .a 4% ( 4 % ) improvement in our fuel consumption rate resulted in $ 136 million of cost savings due to the use of newer , more fuel 2008 operating expenses .

Question: what percent of total operating expenses was fuel in 2007?
Answer: 24%