Selling, marketing and administrative expenses were $16,272 in first quarter 2020 compared to $31,108 in first quarter 2019. Selling, marketing and administrative expenses include $(9,056) and $4,823 of certain deferred compensation expenses (credits) in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively. As discussed above, these expenses (credits) principally result from changes in the market value of investments and investment income from trading securities relating to compensation deferred in previous years, and are not reflective of current operating results. Adjusting for the aforementioned deferred compensation expenses (credits), selling, marketing and administrative expenses decreased from $26,285 in first quarter 2019 to $25,328 in first quarter 2020, a decrease of $957 or 3.6%. As a percentage of net product sales, adjusted selling, marketing and administrative expenses decreased from 26.0% in first quarter 2019 to 24.6% in first quarter 2020, a favorable decrease of 1.4 percentage points as a percent of net sales. The decrease in adjusted selling, marketing and administrative expenses in first quarter 2020 principally reflects decreases in freight and delivery expenses as well as reductions in overall general and administrative expenses in 2020 when compared to the corresponding periods in 2019.
Selling, marketing and administrative expenses include $10,672 and $11,032 for customer freight, delivery and warehousing expenses in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $360 or 3.3%. These expenses were 10.4% and 10.9% of net product sales in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Earnings from operations were $20,744 in first quarter 2020 compared to $5,758 in first quarter 2019. Earnings from operations include $(9,375) and $5,003 of certain deferred compensation expenses (credits) in first quarter 2020 and 2019; respectively, which are discussed above. Adjusting for these deferred compensation costs, expenses and (credits), earnings from operations were $11,369 and $10,761 in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $608 or 5.7%. As a percentage of net product sales, these adjusted operating earnings were 11.1% and 10.7% in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively, a favorable increase of 0.4 percentage points as a percentage of net product sales. The improvement in adjusted earnings from operations principally reflects the benefits of increased sales, including 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 (loss), net was $(5,494) in first quarter 2020 compared to $6,017 in first quarter 2019, an unfavorable decrease of $11,511. Other income, net for first quarter 2020 and 2019 includes net (losses) gains and investment income of $(9,375) and $5,003, respectively, on trading securities which provide an economic hedge of the Company’s deferred compensation liabilities. 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 first quarter 2020 and 2019 includes investment income on available for sale securities of $1,181 and $1,071 in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Other income (loss), net also includes gains (losses) on foreign exchange of $2,510 and $(235) in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The consolidated effective tax rates were 21.5% and 24.3% in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively. The lower tax rates in first quarter 2020 principally reflect lower state income tax expense. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act provides a substantial stimulus and assistance package intended to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, including tax relief and government loans, grants and investments. The CARES Act did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements for first quarter 2020. We continue to monitor any effects that may result from the CARES Act.
Net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. were $11,982 (after $6 net loss attributed to non-controlling interests) in first quarter 2020 compared to $8,955 (after $44 net loss attributed to non-controlling interests) in first quarter 2019, and earnings per share were $0.18 and $0.13 in first quarter 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $0.05 per share, or 38.5%. First quarter 2020 net earnings benefited from after-tax foreign exchange gains of approximately $1,900 or $0.03 per share. Earnings per share attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. for first quarter 2020 also benefited from the reduction in average shares outstanding resulting from purchases in the open market by the Company of its common stock. Average shares outstanding decreased from 67,814 at first quarter 2019 to 66,875 at first quarter 2020.