item 7 . management 2019s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations executive summary international paper 2019s operating results in 2006 bene- fited from strong gains in pricing and sales volumes and lower operating costs . our average paper and packaging prices in 2006 increased faster than our costs for the first time in four years . the improve- ment in sales volumes reflects increased uncoated papers , corrugated box , coated paperboard and european papers shipments , as well as improved revenues from our xpedx distribution business . our manufacturing operations also made solid cost reduction improvements . lower interest expense , reflecting debt repayments in 2005 and 2006 , was also a positive factor . together , these improvements more than offset the effects of continued high raw material and distribution costs , lower real estate sales , higher net corporate expenses and lower con- tributions from businesses and forestlands divested during 2006 . looking forward to 2007 , we expect seasonally higher sales volumes in the first quarter . average paper price realizations should continue to improve as we implement previously announced price increases in europe and brazil . input costs for energy , fiber and chemicals are expected to be mixed , although slightly higher in the first quarter . operating results will benefit from the recently completed international paper/sun paperboard joint ventures in china and the addition of the luiz anto- nio paper mill to our operations in brazil . however , primarily as a result of lower real estate sales in the first quarter , we anticipate earnings from continuing operations will be somewhat lower than in the 2006 fourth quarter . significant steps were also taken in 2006 in the execution of the company 2019s transformation plan . we completed the sales of our u.s . and brazilian coated papers businesses and 5.6 million acres of u.s . forestlands , and announced definitive sale agreements for our kraft papers , beverage pack- aging and arizona chemical businesses and a majority of our wood products business , all expected to close during 2007 . through december 31 , 2006 , we have received approximately $ 9.7 billion of the estimated proceeds from divest- itures announced under this plan of approximately $ 11.3 billion , with the balance to be received as the remaining divestitures are completed in the first half of 2007 . we have strengthened our balance sheet by reducing debt by $ 6.2 billion , and returned value to our shareholders by repurchasing 39.7 million shares of our common stock for approximately $ 1.4 billion . we made a $ 1.0 billion voluntary contribution to our u.s . qualified pension fund . we have identified selective reinvestment opportunities totaling approx- imately $ 2.0 billion , including opportunities in china , brazil and russia . finally , we remain focused on our three-year $ 1.2 billion target for non-price profit- ability improvements , with $ 330 million realized during 2006 . while more remains to be done in 2007 , we have made substantial progress toward achiev- ing the objectives announced at the outset of the plan in july 2005 . results of operations industry segment operating profits are used by inter- national paper 2019s management to measure the earn- ings performance of its businesses . management believes that this measure allows a better under- standing of trends in costs , operating efficiencies , prices and volumes . industry segment operating profits are defined as earnings before taxes and minority interest , interest expense , corporate items and corporate special items . industry segment oper- ating profits are defined by the securities and exchange commission as a non-gaap financial measure , and are not gaap alternatives to net income or any other operating measure prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the united states . international paper operates in six segments : print- ing papers , industrial packaging , consumer pack- aging , distribution , forest products and specialty businesses and other . the following table shows the components of net earnings ( loss ) for each of the last three years : in millions 2006 2005 2004 .
what was the average industry segment operating profits from 2004 to 2006
* corporate special items include gains on transformation plan forestland sales , goodwill impairment charges , restructuring and other charges , net losses on sales and impairments of businesses , insurance recoveries and reversals of reserves no longer required. .