adjusted for non-cash income and expense items and changes in working capital . earnings from con- tinuing operations , adjusted for non-cash items and excluding the pension contribution , increased by $ 584 million in 2006 versus 2005 . this compared with a decline of $ 63 million for 2005 over 2004 . international paper 2019s investments in accounts receiv- able and inventory less accounts payable and accrued liabilities , totaled $ 997 million at december 31 , 2006 . cash used for these working capital components increased by $ 354 million in 2006 , compared with a $ 558 million increase in 2005 and a $ 117 million increase in 2004 . the increase in 2006 was principally due to decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities . investment activities investment activities in 2006 included $ 1.8 billion of net cash proceeds received from divestitures , $ 1.6 billion of net cash proceeds received from the sale of u.s . forestlands under the company 2019s trans- formation plan , and $ 1.1 billion of deposits made to pre-fund project development costs for a pulp mill project in brazil . capital spending from continuing operations was $ 1.0 billion in 2006 , or 87% ( 87 % ) of depreciation and amortization , comparable to $ 992 million , or 78% ( 78 % ) of depreciation and amortization in 2005 , and $ 925 mil- lion , or 73% ( 73 % ) of depreciation and amortization in 2004 . the following table presents capital spending from continuing operations by each of our business segments for the years ended december 31 , 2006 , 2005 and 2004 . in millions 2006 2005 2004 .
what was the difference in the increase in the cash in working capital in 2006 compared with the increase in 2005 in millions
we expect capital expenditures in 2007 to be about $ 1.2 billion , or about equal to estimated depreciation and amortization . we will continue to focus our future capital spending on improving our key platform businesses in north america and on investments in geographic areas with strong growth opportunities . acquisitions in october and november 2006 , international paper paid approximately $ 82 million for a 50% ( 50 % ) interest in the international paper & sun cartonboard co. , ltd . joint venture that currently operates two coated paperboard machines in yanzhou city , china . in december 2006 , a 50% ( 50 % ) interest was acquired in a second joint venture , shandong international paper & sun coated paperboard co. , ltd. , for approximately $ 28 million . this joint venture was formed to construct a third coated paperboard machine , expected to be completed in the first quar- ter of 2009 . the operating results of these con- solidated joint ventures did not have a material effect on the company 2019s 2006 consolidated results of operations . on july 1 , 2004 , international paper completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common and preferred stock of box usa holdings , inc . ( box usa ) for approximately $ 189 million in cash and a $ 15 million 6% ( 6 % ) note payable issued to box usa 2019s controlling shareholders . in addition , international paper assumed approximately $ 197 million of debt , approximately $ 193 million of which was repaid by july 31 , 2004 . the operating results of box usa are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements from that date . other acquisitions in october 2005 , international paper acquired approx- imately 65% ( 65 % ) of compagnie marocaine des cartons et des papiers ( cmcp ) , a leading moroccan corrugated packaging company , for approximately $ 80 million in cash plus assumed debt of approximately $ 40 mil- in 2001 , international paper and carter holt harvey limited ( chh ) had each acquired a 25% ( 25 % ) interest in international paper pacific millennium limited ( ippm ) . ippm is a hong kong-based distribution and packaging company with operations in china and other asian countries . on august 1 , 2005 , pursuant to an existing agreement , international paper pur- chased a 50% ( 50 % ) third-party interest in ippm ( now renamed international paper distribution limited ) for $ 46 million to facilitate possible further growth in asia . finally , in may 2006 , the company purchased the remaining 25% ( 25 % ) from chh interest for $ 21 million . each of the above acquisitions was accounted for using the purchase method . the operating results of these acquisitions have been included in the con- solidated statement of operations from the dates of acquisition. .