organic volume and selling price impacts) was 4.9 percent, acquisitions added 0.1 percent, and foreign currency translation reduced sales by 1.9 percent. All of 3M’s five business segments posted operating income margins of approximately 20 percent or more in 2014. Worldwide operating income margins for 2014 were 22.4 percent, compared to 21.6 percent for 2013.

 

Sales in 2013 increased 3.2 percent, led by Industrial at 6.5 percent, Health Care at 3.8 percent, and Safety and Graphics at 3.3 percent. Sales increased 1.1 percent in Consumer and declined 1.2 percent in Electronics and Energy. Total company organic local-currency sales growth (which includes organic volume and selling price impacts) was 3.4 percent, acquisitions added 1.4 percent, and foreign currency translation reduced sales by 1.6 percent. Four of 3M’s five business segments posted operating income margins in excess of 21 percent in 2013. Worldwide operating income margins for 2013 were 21.6 percent, compared to 21.7 percent for 2012.

 

Financial condition:

 

3M generated $6.626 billion of operating cash flow in 2014, an increase of $809 million when compared to 2013. This followed an increase of $517 million when comparing 2013 to 2012. Refer to the section entitled “Financial Condition and Liquidity” later in MD&A for a discussion of items impacting cash flows. In February 2014, 3M’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $12 billion of 3M’s outstanding common stock, which replaced the Company’s February 2013 repurchase program. This new program has no pre-established end date. In 2014, the Company purchased $5.652 billion of stock, and in 2013 the Company purchased $5.212 billion of stock, up significantly from $2.204 billion in 2012. The Company expects to purchase $3 billion to $5 billion of stock in 2015. In December 2014, 3M’s Board of Directors declared a first-quarter 2015 dividend of $1.025 per share, an increase of 20 percent. This marked the 57th consecutive year of dividend increases for 3M. 3M’s debt to total capital ratio (total capital defined as debt plus equity) was 34 percent at December 31, 2014, and 25 percent at both December 31, 2013 and 2012. As of February 2015, the Company has an AA- credit rating, with a stable outlook, from Standard & Poor’s and an Aa3 credit rating, with a negative outlook, from Moody’s Investors Service. The Company has significant cash on hand and sufficient additional access to capital markets to meet its funding needs. 3M currently expects that its effective tax rate for 2015 will be approximately 28.0 to 29.0 percent, which assumes that the U.S. research and development credit will be reinstated for 2015.

 

Raw materials:

 

In 2014, the Company experienced stable to declining costs for most raw material categories and transportation fuel. This was driven by year-on-year cost decreases in many feedstock categories, including petroleum based materials, minerals, metals and wood pulp based products. To date the Company is receiving sufficient quantities of all raw materials to meet its reasonably foreseeable production requirements. It is impossible to predict future shortages of raw materials or the