decline in lens systems for the CRT rear projection television market along with the phase out of the commercial videotape business announced in the fourth quarter of 2004. Operating income increased 2.3% in 2005.  Operating income was impacted by the commercial videotape business phase out and decline in lens systems for the CRT rear projection television market, which negatively impacted 2005 operating income by approximately 8%.

 

In 2004, Display and Graphics’ local-currency sales growth was 10.5%. Strong demand for 3M films that brighten the displays on electronic products, such as flat-panel computer monitors, cellular phones, notebook PCs and LCD televisions, continued to drive results in 2004. Year-on-year local-currency sales growth in the Optical Systems business was slower in the last half of 2004, primarily due to inventory channel adjustments in the LCD market. This resulted in reduced demand for 3M’s proprietary optical films and components. While this business is subject to periodic customer inventory fluctuations, 3M believes that this business will continue to be a significant growth engine for 3M. In the fourth quarter of 2004, 3M announced the phase out of its commercial videotape business, and this action, combined with a continuing decline in lens systems for the CRT rear-projection television market, negatively impacted sales and operating income. Operating income increased 27.9% to $1.133 billion in 2004.



Consumer and Office Business (14.1% of consolidated sales):

 

The Consumer and Office segment serves markets that include consumer retail, office retail, education, home improvement, building maintenance and other markets. Products in this segment include office supply products, stationery products, construction and home improvement products, home care products, protective material products (including consumer health care products such as bandages), and visual systems products.

 

In 2005, Consumer and Office local-currency sales increased 3.4%, with broad-based growth across the many channels 3M serves. Consumer and Office experienced solid local-currency sales growth in construction and home improvement, home care and in its protective materials businesses. In the fourth quarter of 2005, sales were up slightly in local-currency terms as compared to an exceptional fourth quarter of 2004, when sales increased 8.3%, as several large retailers apparently increased their purchase rate level to meet their objectives. The continuing decline in 3M’s Visual Systems business impacted sales by approximately 2% for the year. Consumer and Office continues to drive success by combining unique functionality along with customer inspired design into new and mature products such as Scotch® Tape, Post-It® Notes, Filtrete™ Filters and O-Cel-O™ sponges. Operating income increased 6.3% in 2005.

 

In 2004, local-currency sales growth in Consumer and Office was 6.9%. Sales growth was fairly broad-based across the many retail channels 3M serves, most notably in mass-market consumer retail and home improvement. This included strong sales growth in construction and home improvement/home care products, office supply products and