$16.8 billion from 2009 due to higher prices for crude oil, natural gas and refined products. Crude oil and product purchases in 2009 decreased $71.7 billion from 2008 due to lower prices for crude oil, natural gas and refined products.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses in 2010 were about $1.6 billion higher than 2009, primarily due to $600 million of higher fuel expenses; $500 million for employee compensation and benefits; $200 million of increased construction, repair and maintenance expense; and an increase of about $200 million associated with higher tanker charter rates. In addition, charges of $234 million related to employee reductions were included in the 2010 period. Total expenses for 2009 decreased approximately $4.2 billion from 2008 primarily due to $1.4 billion of lower fuel and transportation expenses; $800 million of decreased costs for contract labor and professional services; the absence of uninsured 2008 hurricane-related charges of $700 million; a decrease of about $500 million for environmental remediation activities; $200 million of lower costs for materials; and $600 million for other items.

Exploration expenses in 2010 declined from 2009 mainly due to lower amounts for geological and geophysical costs and well write-offs. Exploration expenses in 2009increased from 2008 mainly due to higher amounts for well write-offs in the United States and international operations.

The increase in 2010 from 2009 was largely due to higher depreciation rates and higher production for certain oil and gas fields, partly offset by lower impairments. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses increased in 2009 from 2008 due to incremental production related to start-ups for upstream projects in the United States and Africa and higher depreciation rates for certain other oil and gas producing fields.

Taxes other than on income increased in 2010 from 2009 mainly due to higher excise taxes in Canada and the United Kingdom. Taxes other than on income decreased in 2009 from 2008 mainly due to lower import duties for the company’s downstream operations in the United Kingdom.     I

nterest and debt expense, net of capitalized interest, increased in 2010 from 2009 primarily due to slightly higher average effective interest rates. The increase in 2009 over 2008 was due to an increase in long-term debt.

     Effective income tax rates were 40 percent in 2010, 43 percent in 2009 and 44 percent in 2008. The rate was lower in 2010 than in 2009 primarily due to international upstream impacts. A lower effective tax rate in international upstream in 2010 was primarily driven by an increased utilization of tax credits, which had a greater impact on the rate than one-time deferred tax benefits and relatively low tax rates on asset sales in 2009. Also, a smaller portion of company income was earned in higher tax rate international upstream jurisdictions in 2010 than in 2009. Finally, foreign currency remeasurement impacts caused a reduction in the effective tax rate between periods. The rate was lower in 2009 than in 2008 mainly due to the effect in 2009 of deferred tax benefits and relatively low tax rates on asset