management 2019s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in 2008 , sales to the segment 2019s top five customers represented approximately 45% ( 45 % ) of the segment 2019s net sales . the segment 2019s backlog was $ 2.3 billion at december 31 , 2008 , compared to $ 2.6 billion at december 31 , 2007 . in 2008 , our digital video customers significantly increased their purchases of the segment 2019s products and services , primarily due to increased demand for digital entertainment devices , particularly ip and hd/dvr devices . in february 2008 , the segment acquired the assets related to digital cable set-top products of zhejiang dahua digital technology co. , ltd and hangzhou image silicon ( known collectively as dahua digital ) , a developer , manufacturer and marketer of cable set-tops and related low-cost integrated circuits for the emerging chinese cable business . the acquisition helped the segment strengthen its position in the rapidly growing cable market in china . enterprise mobility solutions segment the enterprise mobility solutions segment designs , manufactures , sells , installs and services analog and digital two-way radios , wireless lan and security products , voice and data communications products and systems for private networks , wireless broadband systems and end-to-end enterprise mobility solutions to a wide range of customers , including government and public safety agencies ( which , together with all sales to distributors of two-way communication products , are referred to as the 2018 2018government and public safety market 2019 2019 ) , as well as retail , energy and utilities , transportation , manufacturing , healthcare and other commercial customers ( which , collectively , are referred to as the 2018 2018commercial enterprise market 2019 2019 ) . in 2009 , the segment 2019s net sales represented 32% ( 32 % ) of the company 2019s consolidated net sales , compared to 27% ( 27 % ) in 2008 and 21% ( 21 % ) in 2007 . years ended december 31 percent change ( dollars in millions ) 2009 2008 2007 2009 20142008 2008 20142007 .
did consolidated net sales grow from 2007 to 2009 and what was this growth in a percentage?
segment results 20142009 compared to 2008 in 2009 , the segment 2019s net sales were $ 7.0 billion , a decrease of 13% ( 13 % ) compared to net sales of $ 8.1 billion in 2008 . the 13% ( 13 % ) decrease in net sales reflects a 21% ( 21 % ) decrease in net sales to the commercial enterprise market and a 10% ( 10 % ) decrease in net sales to the government and public safety market . the decrease in net sales to the commercial enterprise market reflects decreased net sales in all regions . the decrease in net sales to the government and public safety market was primarily driven by decreased net sales in emea , north america and latin america , partially offset by higher net sales in asia . the segment 2019s overall net sales were lower in north america , emea and latin america and higher in asia the segment had operating earnings of $ 1.1 billion in 2009 , a decrease of 29% ( 29 % ) compared to operating earnings of $ 1.5 billion in 2008 . the decrease in operating earnings was primarily due to a decrease in gross margin , driven by the 13% ( 13 % ) decrease in net sales and an unfavorable product mix . also contributing to the decrease in operating earnings was an increase in reorganization of business charges , relating primarily to higher employee severance costs . these factors were partially offset by decreased sg&a expenses and r&d expenditures , primarily related to savings from cost-reduction initiatives . as a percentage of net sales in 2009 as compared 2008 , gross margin decreased and r&d expenditures and sg&a expenses increased . net sales in north america continued to comprise a significant portion of the segment 2019s business , accounting for approximately 58% ( 58 % ) of the segment 2019s net sales in 2009 , compared to approximately 57% ( 57 % ) in 2008 . the regional shift in 2009 as compared to 2008 reflects a 16% ( 16 % ) decline in net sales outside of north america and a 12% ( 12 % ) decline in net sales in north america . the segment 2019s backlog was $ 2.4 billion at both december 31 , 2009 and december 31 , 2008 . in our government and public safety market , we see a continued emphasis on mission-critical communication and homeland security solutions . in 2009 , we led market innovation through the continued success of our mototrbo line and the delivery of the apx fffd family of products . while spending by end customers in the segment 2019s government and public safety market is affected by government budgets at the national , state and local levels , we continue to see demand for large-scale mission critical communications systems . in 2009 , we had significant wins across the globe , including several city and statewide communications systems in the united states , and continued success winning competitive projects with our tetra systems in europe , the middle east .