of the sale of Remil and the sale of a portion of our ownership interest in Coca-Cola Pakistan, which resulted in its deconsolidation. Refer to the heading "Operations Review — Other Income (Loss) — Net" and Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The favorable impact of the previously mentioned items was partially offset by the full year impact of 2007 acquisitions, including, but not limited to, 18 German bottling and distribution operations, NORSA, glacéau, CCBPI and Leao Junior S.A. ("Leao Junior"), a Brazilian tea company. Refer to Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition to the full year impact of prior year acquisitions, our 2008 gross profit margin was also unfavorably impacted by increases in the cost of raw materials and freight. 

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $416 million, or 4 percent, in 2009 compared to 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, which decreased selling, general and administrative expenses by approximately 4 percent. In addition to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, selling expenses decreased due to the sale of certain bottling operations in 2008. Bottling operations sold in 2008 included Remil and a portion of our ownership interest in Coca-Cola Pakistan, which resulted in its deconsolidation. Advertising expenses were impacted by shifts in our marketing and media spend strategies, primarily due to spending more marketing dollars toward in-store activations, loyalty points programs and point-of-sale marketing. Many of these strategies impact net operating revenues instead of marketing expenses. Refer to the heading "Net Operating Revenues," above. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in pension costs and higher short-term incentive costs, partially offset by savings generated from the Company's ongoing productivity initiatives. 

The increase in our pension expense was primarily attributable to the significant decline in the value of our pension plan assets precipitated by the credit crisis and financial system instability in 2008. As a result of this decline, along with a decrease in the discount rate, our 2009 pension costs increased by $103 million. Refer to the heading "Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Position — Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations" and Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. 

Our 2010 pension expense is expected to decrease by approximately $50 million compared to 2009. The anticipated decrease is primarily due to the appreciation of our pension plan assets and the impact of the $269 million in contributions to our pension plans in 2009, partially offset by a decrease in the discount rate. Refer to the heading "Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Position — Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations" and Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. 

As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately $335 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested