a portion of the assets of our frozen unbaked bread dough product line in our Bakeries and Foodservice segment, including the discontinuation of our frozen dinner roll product line in our U.S. Retail segment that shared a divested facility. In addition, we recorded a $6 million loss on the sale of our bread concentrates product line in our Bakeries and Foodservice segment. Interest, net for fiscal 2009 totaled $383 million, $17 million lower than fiscal 2008. Average interest-bearing instruments decreased $70 million in fiscal 2009 leading to a $4 million decrease in net interest. Average interest rates also decreased 20 basis points generating a $13 million decrease in net interest. The average interest rate on our total outstanding debt was 5.7 percent in fiscal 2009 compared to 5.9 percent in fiscal 2008. Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs totaled $42 million in fiscal 2009 as follows: In fiscal 2009, due to declining financial results, we approved the restructuring of our International segment’s business in Brazil. We discontinued the production and marketing of Forno De Minas cheese bread and Frescarini pasta brands in Brazil and closed our Contagem, Brazil manufacturing facility. These actions affected 556 employees in our Brazilian operations. Our other product lines in Brazil were not affected by the decision. As a result of this decision, we incurred a charge of $17 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, consisting primarily of $5 million of employee severance, an $11 million noncash impairment charge to write down assets to their net realizable value, and $1 million of other costs associated with this restructuring action. This restructuring action was completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2010. Due to declining net sales and to improve manufacturing capacity for other product lines, we decided to exit our U.S. Retail segment’s Perfect Portions refrigerated biscuits product line at our manufacturing facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. We recorded an $8 million noncash impairment charge against long-lived assets used for this product line. Our other product lines at Murfreesboro were not affected by the decision, and no employees were affected by this action, which was completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2010. In fiscal 2009, we also incurred $17 million of incremental plant closure expenses related to previously announced restructuring activities, including $10 million for the remainder of our lease obligation at our previously closed facility in Trenton, Ontario. In fiscal 2009, we paid $10 million in cash related to restruc- turing actions taken in fiscal 2009 and previous years. Our consolidated effective income tax rate for fiscal 2009 was 37.1 percent compared to 34.0 percent in fiscal 2008.The increase in the effective rate is primarily due to the effect of a 2009 U.S. appellate court decision that reversed a 2008 U.S. district court decision. In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, we recorded an income tax benefit of $31 million as a result of a favorable U.S. district court decision on an uncertain tax matter. In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued an opinion reversing the district court deci- sion. As a result, we recorded $53 million (including interest) of income tax expense related to the reversal of cumulative income tax benefits from this uncertain tax matter recognized in fiscal years 1992 through 2008. The rate also increased in fiscal 2009 due to $15 million of tax expense related to nondeductible good- will write-offs associated with our divestitures. Other items that decreased the 2009 effective income tax rate include a favorable California appeals court decision that resulted in the recognition of $10 million of tax benefits. In addition, we recognized $21 million of other tax benefits, primarily related to foreign tax credits and audit settlements. After-tax earnings from joint ventures totaled $92 million in fiscal 2009, compared to $111 million in fiscal 2008. Fiscal 2009 earnings were reduced by a $6 million deferred income tax valuation allowance. In fiscal 2008, earnings included $16 million for our share of a gain on the sale of a CPW property in the United Kingdom offset by restructuring expenses of $8 million. Fiscal 2008 results also included $2 million for our share of a gain on the sale of the 8th Continent soymilk business. In fiscal 2009, net sales for CPW increased 5 percent. Volume growth of 4 percent- age points, including growth in Russia, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, and net price realization were offset by unfavor- able foreign exchange. Net sales for our Ha ¨agen-Dazs joint ven- ture in Japan increased 2 percent in fiscal 2009 as a result of General Mills 24 Expense, in Millions ......................................................................................................................................................................................... Closure of Contagem, Brazil bread and pasta plant $16.8 Discontinuation of product line at Murfreesboro, Tennessee plant 8.3 Charges associated with restructuring actions previously announced 16.5 ......................................................................................................................................................................................... Total $41.6