Financial report context:
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 .

Financial table:
millions of dollars: compensation and benefits; 2008: $ 4457; 2007: $ 4526; 2006: $ 4535; % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007: ( 2 ) % (  % ); % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006: -% ( - % )
millions of dollars: fuel; 2008: 3983; 2007: 3104; 2006: 2968; % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007: 28; % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006: 5
millions of dollars: purchased services and materials; 2008: 1902; 2007: 1856; 2006: 1756; % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007: 2; % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006: 6
millions of dollars: depreciation; 2008: 1387; 2007: 1321; 2006: 1237; % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007: 5; % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006: 7
millions of dollars: equipment and other rents; 2008: 1326; 2007: 1368; 2006: 1396; % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007: -3 ( 3 ); % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006: -2 ( 2 )
millions of dollars: other; 2008: 840; 2007: 733; 2006: 802; % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007: 15; % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006: -9 ( 9 )
millions of dollars: total; 2008: $ 13895; 2007: $ 12908; 2006: $ 12694; % (  % ) change 2008 v 2007: 8 % (  % ); % (  % ) change 2007 v 2006: 2% ( 2 % )

Additional report context:
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%