offset by declines in renewable energy and communications markets. Industrial organic local-currency sales increased 5.9 percent, led by advanced materials, aerospace and commercial transportation, industrial adhesives and tapes, automotive aftermarket, and automotive OEM. Organic local-currency sales increased 5.8 percent in the Consumer business segment, with positive growth in all businesses, led by the construction and home improvement business (do-it-yourself), and consumer health care. For the Company in total, organic-local currency sales grew 6.3 percent, with higher organic volumes contributing 5.6 percent and selling price increases contributing 0.7 percent. Acquisitions added 0.1 percent to sales, which related to the April 2014 acquisition of Treo Solutions LLC (Treo). Foreign currency translation reduced sales by 4.4 percent year-on-year.

 

From a geographic area perspective, fourth-quarter 2014 organic local-currency sales growth was 9.0 percent in Latin America/Canada, 6.9 percent in Asia Pacific, 6.6 percent in the United States, and 3.3 percent in EMEA. Organic local-currency sales growth in Latin America/Canada was led by Electronics and Energy, Health Care, and Safety and Graphics. Mexico delivered strong growth and Brazil was up slightly. Organic local-currency sales growth in Asia Pacific was led by Safety and Graphics, and Health Care. Sales in Japan grew 9 percent organically, or 4 percent excluding electronics. China/Hong Kong sales grew 4 percent organically, or 6 percent excluding electronics. Organic local-currency sales growth in the United States was strong in four of the five business segments, while Electronics and Energy was flat. Organic local-currency sales growth in EMEA was positive in four of five business segments, led by Safety and Graphics, and Electronics and Energy, while Consumer was down slightly in the quarter. Central/East Europe and Middle East/Africa each showed solid local-currency sales growth in the quarter, while West Europe grew 1 percent. EMEA economies remain soft, but 3M is managing the situation by growing market positions and driving continuous productivity across the region.

 

Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2014 was 21.5 percent of sales, compared to 20.9 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2013, an increase of 0.6 percentage points. These results included a benefit from the combination of selling price increases and raw material cost decreases, lower pension/postretirement benefit costs, and profit leverage on organic volume growth. These factors were partially offset by strategic investments, and other factors. Strategic investments are further described for year 2014 in the section entitled “Results of Operations”.

 

The income tax rate was 28.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, down 0.4 percentage points versus the fourth quarter of 2013, which increased earnings per diluted share by approximately 1 cent. Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding in the fourth quarter of 2014 declined 4.5 percent year-on-year to 650.9 million, which increased earnings per diluted share by approximately 8 cents. Foreign exchange impacts decreased earnings per diluted