Table:
|  | Year ended March 31, |  | Period-to-period change |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 2019 | 2018 | Amount | % Change |
|  |  | (dollars in thousands) |  |  |
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |  |
| Interest income | $ 2,515 | $ 1,310 | $ 1,205 | 92 % |
| Interest expense | (5,940) | (598) | (5,342) | nm |
| Foreign exchange expense and other, net | (356) | (3,439) | 3,083 | nm |
| Total other income (expense), net | $ (3,781) | $ (2,727) | $ (1,054) | nm |
Paragraphs:
Other income (expense)
nm—not meaningful
Interest income increased $1.2 million primarily as a result of higher weighted-average balances of cash, cash equivalents and investments and higher yields on investments.
Interest expense increased $5.3 million primarily as a result of interest expense of $3.3 million associated with our long-term debt and our financing lease obligation of $2.0 million in connection with the construction of our Lexington, MA – U.S. headquarters.
Foreign exchange expense and other, net decreased by $3.1 million primarily as a result of a decrease in foreign exchange expense of $1.9 million, sublease income of $0.9 million and a gain on a previously held asset related to the Solebit acquisition of $0.3 million.
Question:
What caused the interest expense to increase?
Answer: result of interest expense of $3.3 million associated with our long-term debt and our financing lease obligation of $2.0 million in connection with the construction of our Lexington, MA – U.S. headquarters