The 2012 decrease was driven by lower average international debt balances and lower interest rates on U.S. debt.

 

Interest Income: Interest income was up $2 million when comparing 2013 to 2012, as higher average international cash balances were largely offset by lower average U.S. balances and lower U.S. and international interest rates. In 2012, lower U.S. cash balances and lower interest rates internationally were offset by higher international cash balances and higher interest rates in the U.S.

 

Provision for Income Taxes:

  

The effective tax rate for 2013 was 28.1 percent, compared to 29.0 percent in 2012, a decrease of 0.9 percentage points, impacted by many factors. Factors that decreased the Company’s effective tax rate included international taxes as a result of changes to the geographic mix of income before taxes, the reinstatement of the U.S. research and development credit in 2013, an increase in the domestic manufacturer’s deduction benefit, the restoration of tax basis on certain assets for which depreciation deductions were previously limited, and other items. Combined, these factors decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 4.0 percentage points. This benefit was partially offset by factors that increased the effective tax rate by 3.1 percentage points, which largely related to adjustments to 3M’s income tax reserves for 2013 when compared to 2012.

 

The effective tax rate for 2012 was 29.0 percent, compared to 27.8 percent in 2011, an increase of 1.2 percentage points, impacted by many factors. The primary factors that increased the Company’s effective tax rate year-on-year include international taxes, specifically with respect to the corporate reorganization of a wholly owned international subsidiary (which benefited 2011), state income taxes, lower domestic manufacturer’s deduction, and the lapse of the U.S. research and development credit. These and other factors, when compared to 2011, increased the 2012 effective tax rate by 2.1 percentage points. Factors that decreased the Company’s effective tax rate year-on-year include international taxes as a result of changes to the geographic mix of income before taxes and adjustments to its income tax reserves. These factors, when compared to 2011, decreased the effective tax rate 0.9 percentage points.

 

The Company currently expects that its effective tax rate for total year 2014 will be approximately 28.0 to 29.0 percent. The rate can vary from quarter to quarter due to discrete items, such as the settlement of income tax audits and changes in tax laws, as well as recurring factors, such as the geographic mix of income before taxes.

 

Refer to Note 7 for further discussion of income taxes.

 

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest:

  

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest represents the elimination of the income or loss attributable to non-3M ownership interests in 3M consolidated entities. The changes in noncontrolling interest amounts are primarily related to Sumitomo 3M Limited (Japan), which is 3M’s most significant consolidated entity with non-3M ownership interests. As of December 31, 2013, 3M’s effective ownership in