Net cash used by investing activities in 2009 was $1.8 billion, compared to $1.9 billion in 2008. Purchases of property and equipment of $1.8 billion decreased $156 million from the $2.0 billion purchased in 2008. Proceeds from building sales and the sale of property and equipment totaled $33 million in 2009, compared to $57 million in 2008.
Net cash used by investing activities was $1.9 billion in 2008, compared to $500 million provided in 2007. Purchases of property and equipment of $2.0 billion decreased $700 million from the $2.7 billion purchased in 2007. Proceeds from building sales and the sale of property and equipment totaled $57 million in 2008, compared to $257 million in 2007. The remainder of the change was due to the absence in 2008 of the one-time 2007 transfer of funds from the escrow restricted cash into operating cash. Excluding this one-time item, cash used by investing activities would have decreased $520 million in 2008.
