Financial report context:
mastercard incorporated notes to consolidated financial statements 2014 ( continued ) ( in thousands , except percent and per share data ) the following table summarizes expected benefit payments through 2018 including those payments expected to be paid from the company 2019s general assets . since the majority of the benefit payments are made in the form of lump-sum distributions , actual benefit payments may differ from expected benefits payments. .

Financial table:
2009: 2010; $ 19766: 18182
2009: 2011; $ 19766: 25518
2009: 2012; $ 19766: 21029
2009: 2013; $ 19766: 24578
2009: 2014 2013 2018; $ 19766: 118709

Additional report context:
substantially all of the company 2019s u.s . employees are eligible to participate in a defined contribution savings plan ( the 201csavings plan 201d ) sponsored by the company . the savings plan allows employees to contribute a portion of their base compensation on a pre-tax and after-tax basis in accordance with specified guidelines . the company matches a percentage of employees 2019 contributions up to certain limits . in 2007 and prior years , the company could also contribute to the savings plan a discretionary profit sharing component linked to company performance during the prior year . beginning in 2008 , the discretionary profit sharing amount related to 2007 company performance was paid directly to employees as a short-term cash incentive bonus rather than as a contribution to the savings plan . in addition , the company has several defined contribution plans outside of the united states . the company 2019s contribution expense related to all of its defined contribution plans was $ 35341 , $ 26996 and $ 43594 for 2008 , 2007 and 2006 , respectively . the company had a value appreciation program ( 201cvap 201d ) , which was an incentive compensation plan established in 1995 . annual awards were granted to vap participants from 1995 through 1998 , which entitled participants to the net appreciation on a portfolio of securities of members of mastercard international . in 1999 , the vap was replaced by an executive incentive plan ( 201ceip 201d ) and the senior executive incentive plan ( 201cseip 201d ) ( together the 201ceip plans 201d ) ( see note 16 ( share based payments and other benefits ) ) . contributions to the vap have been discontinued , all plan assets have been disbursed and no vap liability remained as of december 31 , 2008 . the company 2019s liability related to the vap at december 31 , 2007 was $ 986 . the expense ( benefit ) was $ ( 6 ) , $ ( 267 ) and $ 3406 for the years ended december 31 , 2008 , 2007 and 2006 , respectively . note 12 . postemployment and postretirement benefits the company maintains a postretirement plan ( the 201cpostretirement plan 201d ) providing health coverage and life insurance benefits for substantially all of its u.s . employees and retirees hired before july 1 , 2007 . the company amended the life insurance benefits under the postretirement plan effective january 1 , 2007 . the impact , net of taxes , of this amendment was an increase of $ 1715 to accumulated other comprehensive income in 2007. .

Question: considering the years 2007-2008 , what was the increase observed in the expense related to all of the defined contribution plans?
Answer: 31%