expenses in second quarter 2019 principally reflects decreases in customer freight, delivery and warehousing, and legal and professional fees in the second quarter 2019, compared to second quarter 2018.
Selling, marketing and administrative expenses include $11,185 and $11,386 for customer freight, delivery and warehousing expenses in second quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively, a decrease of $201 or 1.8%. These expenses were $22,217 and $21,606 in first half 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $611 or 2.8%. These expenses were 10.5% and 10.8% of net product sales in second quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively, and were 10.7% and 10.5% of net product sales in first half 2019 and 2018, respectively. Although freight and delivery expenses remain elevated compared to historical levels, we experienced some moderation and declines in customer freight and delivery rates in second quarter 2019 compared to second quarter 2018.
Earnings from operations were $12,515 in second quarter 2019 compared to $10,368 in second quarter 2018, and were $18,273 in first half 2019 compared to $20,210 in first half 2018. Earnings from operations include $1,833 and $1,604 of certain deferred compensation expenses in second quarter 2019 and 2018; respectively, and include $6,836 and $2,015 of certain deferred compensation expenses in first half 2019 and 2018, respectively, which are discussed above. Adjusting for these deferred compensation costs and expenses, earnings from operations were $14,348 and $11,972 in second quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $2,376 or 19.8%; and adjusted operating earnings were $25,109 and $22,225 in first half 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $2,884 or 13.0%. As a percentage of net product sales, these adjusted operating earnings were 13.5% and 11.3% in second quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively, a favorable increase of 2.2 percentage points as a percentage of net product sales; and as a percentage of net product sales, these adjusted operating earnings were 12.1% and 10.8% in first half 2019 and 2018, respectively, a favorable increase of 1.3 percentage points as a percentage of net product sales. The improvement in adjusted earnings from operations principally reflects the benefits of higher price realization as well as the reduction and containment of certain costs and expense as discussed above.
Management believes the comparisons presented in the preceding paragraphs, after adjusting for changes in deferred compensation, are more reflective of the underlying operations of the Company.
Other income, net was $3,053 in second quarter 2019 compared to $3,363 in second quarter 2018, an unfavorable decrease of $310; and other income, net, was $9,070 in first half 2019 compared to $3,884 in first half 2018, a favorable increase of $5,186. Other income, net for second quarter 2019 and 2018 includes net gains and investment income of $1,833 and $1,604, respectively, on trading securities which provide an economic hedge of the Company’s deferred compensation liabilities; and other income, net for first half 2019 and 2018 includes net gains and investment income of $6,836 and $2,015, respectively, on trading securities. These changes in trading securities were substantially offset by a like amount of deferred compensation expense included in product cost of goods sold and selling, marketing, and administrative expenses in the respective periods as discussed above. Other income, net for second quarter 2019 and 2018 includes investment income on available for sale securities of $1,109 and $873 in 2019 and 2018, respectively; and other income, net for first half 2019 and 2018 includes investment income on available for sale securities of $2,181 and $1,720 in 2019 and 2018, respectively. Other income, net also includes gains (losses) on foreign exchange of $(211) and $627 in second quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $(446) and $(277) in first half 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The consolidated effective tax rates were 25.8% and 23.7% in second quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 25.2% and 22.9% in first half 2019 and 2018, respectively. These higher tax rates in 2019 principally reflect higher state and foreign income tax expense, including the effects of certain international tax provisions relating to U.S. tax reform legislation that became effective at the beginning of 2018.
Net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. were $11,556 (after $12 net loss attributed to non-controlling interests) in second quarter 2019 compared to $10,489 (after $19 net loss attributed to non-controlling interests) in second quarter 2018, and earnings per share were $0.18 and $0.16 in second quarter 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $0.02 per share, or 12.5%. First half 2019 net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. were $20,511 (after $56 net loss attributed to non-controlling interests) compared to first half 2018 net earnings of $18,614 (after $43 net loss attributed to non-controlling interests), and net earnings per share were $0.31 and $0.28 in first half 2019 and first half 2018, respectively, an increase of $0.03 per share or 10.7%. Earnings per share attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. for second quarter and first half 2019 did benefit from the reduction in average shares outstanding resulting from purchases in the open market by the Company of its common