Interest expense. Interest expense decreased by $0.4 million, or 29.6%, for the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to a decrease in outstanding borrowings.
Other income (expense), net. Other income, net was $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to Other expense, net of $0.8 for the three months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to gains on foreign currency transactions.
(Provision) benefit for income taxes. Income tax provision was $4.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The effective tax rate was 27.8% and 25.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and differed from the statutory rate primarily due to state taxes and executive compensation, partially offset by research and development tax credits.
Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 to Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
Net sales. Product segment net sales increased by $11.4 million, or 6.1%, from $185.2 million to $196.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to increases of $8.8 million from recent acquisitions, $5.6 million from higher demand for armor products, $3.0 million from higher demand for duty gear holsters and $2.8 million from higher demand for crowd control products, partially offset by a reduction of $7.7 million from large international orders for explosive ordnance disposal products fulfilled in the prior year. Distribution segment net sales increased by $2.6 million, or 5.4%, from $47.8 million to $50.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to agency demand for hard goods. Reconciling items consisting primarily of intercompany eliminations were $14.1 million and $10.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Cost of goods sold and gross profit. Product segment cost of goods sold decreased by $1.3 million, or 1.1%, from $112.1 million to $110.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to prior year increases from the amortization of inventory step up adjustments related to 2022 acquisitions, product mix and productivity. Product segment gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased by 412 basis points to 43.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 from 39.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, mainly driven by favorable pricing, product mix and productivity net of inflation. Distribution segment cost of goods sold increased by $0.9 million, or 2.4%, from $37.6 million to $38.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to increased volume and costs to acquire products. Distribution segment gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased by 221 basis points to 23.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 from 21.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, mainly driven by favorable product mix within the agency channel. Reconciling items consisting primarily of intercompany eliminations were $13.8 million and $10.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Selling, general and administrative. Selling, general and administrative decreased by $17.4 million, or 20.1%, for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to a $21.6 million decrease in stock-based compensation expense, slightly offset by recent acquisitions and an increase in employee compensation and related benefits.
Restructuring and transaction costs. Restructuring and transaction costs decreased by $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022 primarily due to costs incurred in 2022 associated with acquisitions.
Related party expense. Related party expense, which consists of rent expense related to distribution warehouses and retail stores that we lease from related parties, decreased by $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022 primarily due to a $1.0 million transaction fee paid to Kanders & Company, Inc., a company controlled by our Chief Executive Officer, in connection with the acquisition of Cyalume in 2022.
Interest expense. Interest expense decreased by $0.3 million, or 9.4%, for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to a decrease in outstanding borrowings.