22 general mills 2014 annual report 23 gross margin declined 1 percent in fiscal 2014 versus fiscal 2013 . gross margin as a percent of net sales of 36 percent was relatively flat compared to fiscal 2013 . selling , general and administrative ( sg&a ) expenses decreased $ 78 million in fiscal 2014 versus fiscal 2013 . the decrease in sg&a expenses was primarily driven by a 3 percent decrease in advertising and media expense , a smaller contribution to the general mills foundation , a decrease in incentive compensation expense and lower pension expense compared to fiscal 2013 . in fiscal 2014 , we recorded a $ 39 million charge related to venezuela currency devaluation compared to a $ 9 million charge in fiscal 2013 . in addition , we recorded $ 12 million of inte- gration costs in fiscal 2013 related to our acquisition of yoki . sg&a expenses as a percent of net sales decreased 1 percent compared to fiscal 2013 . restructuring , impairment , and other exit costs totaled $ 4 million in fiscal 2014 . the restructuring charge related to a productivity and cost savings plan approved in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 . these restructuring actions were completed in fiscal 2014 . in fiscal 2014 , we paid $ 22 million in cash related to restructuring actions . during fiscal 2014 , we recorded a divestiture gain of $ 66 million related to the sale of certain grain elevators in our u.s . retail segment . there were no divestitures in fiscal 2013 . interest , net for fiscal 2014 totaled $ 302 million , $ 15 million lower than fiscal 2013 . the average interest rate decreased 41 basis points , including the effect of the mix of debt , generating a $ 31 million decrease in net interest . average interest bearing instruments increased $ 367 million , generating a $ 16 million increase in net interest . our consolidated effective tax rate for fiscal 2014 was 33.3 percent compared to 29.2 percent in fiscal 2013 . the 4.1 percentage point increase was primarily related to the restructuring of our general mills cereals , llc ( gmc ) subsidiary during the first quarter of 2013 which resulted in a $ 63 million decrease to deferred income tax liabilities related to the tax basis of the investment in gmc and certain distributed assets , with a correspond- ing non-cash reduction to income taxes . during fiscal 2013 , we also recorded a $ 34 million discrete decrease in income tax expense and an increase in our deferred tax assets related to certain actions taken to restore part of the tax benefits associated with medicare part d subsidies which had previously been reduced in fiscal 2010 with the enactment of the patient protection and affordable care act , as amended by the health care and education reconciliation act of 2010 . our fiscal 2013 tax expense also includes a $ 12 million charge associated with the liquidation of a corporate investment . after-tax earnings from joint ventures for fiscal 2014 decreased to $ 90 million compared to $ 99 million in fiscal 2013 primarily driven by increased consumer spending at cereal partners worldwide ( cpw ) and unfavorable foreign currency exchange from h e4agen- dazs japan , inc . ( hdj ) . the change in net sales for each joint venture is set forth in the following table : joint venture change in net sales as reported constant currency basis fiscal 2014 fiscal 2014 vs . 2013 vs . 2013 cpw ( 1 ) % (  % ) flat .
what was the percent of the reduction in the after-tax earnings from joint ventures primarily driven by increased consumer spending at cereal partners worldwide ( cpw ) and unfavorable foreign currency exchange from h e4agen- dazs japan , inc . from 2012 to 2013
in fiscal 2014 , cpw net sales declined by 1 percent- age point due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange . contribution from volume growth was flat compared to fiscal 2013 . in fiscal 2014 , net sales for hdj decreased 8 percentage points from fiscal 2013 as 11 percentage points of contributions from volume growth was offset by 17 percentage points of net sales decline from unfa- vorable foreign currency exchange and 2 percentage points of net sales decline attributable to unfavorable net price realization and mix . average diluted shares outstanding decreased by 20 million in fiscal 2014 from fiscal 2013 due primar- ily to the repurchase of 36 million shares , partially offset by the issuance of 7 million shares related to stock compensation plans . fiscal 2014 consolidated balance sheet analysis cash and cash equivalents increased $ 126 million from fiscal 2013 . receivables increased $ 37 million from fiscal 2013 pri- marily driven by timing of sales . inventories increased $ 14 million from fiscal 2013 . prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased $ 29 million from fiscal 2013 , mainly due to a decrease in other receivables related to the liquidation of a corporate investment . land , buildings , and equipment increased $ 64 million from fiscal 2013 , as $ 664 million of capital expenditures .