Gross profit. Gross profit decreased $25.8 million, or 21.2%, to $95.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 from $121.5 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 28.8% and 32.6% for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively. The decrease in gross profit rate of 380 basis points was driven by 260 basis points of deleverage in buying and occupancy costs and a 120-basis point decline in merchandise margin rate. The deleverage in buying and occupancy costs was primarily a result of lower volume sales. Merchandise margin declined 120 basis points primarily as a result of 80 basis points of pressure from e-commerce mix shift.
Selling, general and administrative expenses. SG&A expenses decreased $8.6 million, or 9.3%, to $83.9 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 from $92.5 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019. The decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily a result of lower payroll and reduced marketing expenses. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A increased by 40 basis points to 25.2% from 24.8% for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively, primarily due to deleverage on lower sales as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Income from operations. Income from operations decreased $17.2 million, or 59.2%, to $11.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 from $29.0 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019. The decrease in income from operations was attributable to the factors noted above. As a percentage of net sales, income from operations was 3.6% and 7.8% for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively.
Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net, was $5.0 million and $7.2 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively. The decrease in interest expense, net was primarily the result of lower interest rates associated with the debt in the current-year period, compared to the prior-year period, partially offset by a higher average debt balance in the current-year period.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense was $1.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020, compared to income tax expense of $4.4 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019. Our effective tax rate was 24.3% and 20.2% for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively. The tax rate for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 was higher than the tax rate for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019, primarily due to a $0.1 million tax benefit resulting from income tax accounting for share-based compensation compared to a higher benefit of $0.8 million in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2019.
Net income. Net income was $5.3 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 compared to net income of $17.4 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019. The decrease in net income was primarily attributable to the COVID-19 factors noted above.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT. Adjusted EBITDA decreased $12.6 million, or 30.8%, to $28.3 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 from $40.9 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019. Adjusted EBIT decreased $14.8 million, or 47.5%, to $16.3 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 26, 2020 from $31.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended September 28, 2019. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT was primarily a result of the year-over-year decrease in income from operations driven by a decrease in gross profit and an increase in SG&A as a percent of sales as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We rely on cash flows from operating activities and our credit facilities as our primary sources of liquidity. Our primary cash needs are for inventories, operating expenses, capital expenditures associated with opening new stores and remodeling or refurbishing existing stores, improvements to our distribution facilities, marketing and information technology expenditures, debt service and taxes. We have also used cash for acquisitions, the subsequent rebranding and integration of the stores acquired in those acquisitions and costs to consolidate the corporate offices. In addition to cash and cash equivalents, the most significant components of our working capital are accounts receivable, inventories, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities. We believe that cash flows from operating activities