The increase in technology expenses and related depreciation as a percentage of net sales represented approximately 40 basis points for the Quarter. A year-over-year favorable net benefits of certain non-recurring items as a percentage of net sales represented approximately 30 basis points for the Quarter. Reflecting the movement in gross profit margin and SG&A expenses, the Third Quarter operating profit margin of 12% was 110 basis points lower when compared with the same period last year.
Net interest expense of $19.6 million in the Third Quarter relates primarily to interests associated with our $1.5 billion of senior, unsecured notes issued in July 2014. Our provision for income taxes for the Fiscal Third Quarter was approximately 32.2% compared to approximately 36.9% in the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2013. Third Quarter provisions included net after-tax benefits of approximately $16.7 million this year and $4.9 million last year due to distinct tax event occurring during the Quarters.
Year to date net after-tax benefits for 2014 went $19.3 million versus $17.2 million for the comparable period in 2013. Our Quarterly provisions for income taxes continue to fluctuate as taxable events occur and exposures are reevaluated. Considering all of these activity, net earning per diluted share were $1.23 for the Third Quarter of 2014, an increase of 9.8% compared to $1.12 per diluted share in the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2013.
Now let’s turn to the Balance Sheet.
As of November 29th, 2014, our cash and cash equivalents in investment securities were approximately $1.3 billion. Retail inventories at cost were approximately $3 billion or $70.43 per square foot. An increase of approximately 5.3% on a per-square-foot basis over the end of last year’s Third Quarter.
Retail inventories continued to be tailored to meet the anticipated demands of our customers and are in good condition. Capital expenditures for the first nine months of Fiscal 2014 were approximately $231 million. Slightly more than half of these expenditures were for technology enhancements with the remaining balance being used primarily for new stores, existing store improvement and other projects important to our future.
Consolidated shareholders equity at the end of the Quarter was approximately $3.2 billion net of the initial shares delivered under the $1.1 billion accelerated share repurchase program which commenced in July 2014. The company’s $2 billion share repurchase authorization had a remaining balance of approximately $1.8 billion at the end of the Quarter and is expected to be completed during Fiscal 2016.
Regarding our store count, we currently operate 1,512 stores consisting of 1,020 Bed, Bath and Beyond stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, 270 stores under the names World Market, Cost Plus World Market or Cost Plus, 94 buybuy BABY Stores including our newest and first store in Canada. 78 stores under the names Christmas Tree Shops, Christmas Tree Shops andThat! or andThat!, and 50 stores under the names Harmon or Harmon Face Values.
As on November 29th, 2014, consolidated store space, that of openings and closings for all of our concepts was approximately 43 million square feet, an increase of approximately 1.1% over the prior year period.
Turning to the remainder for Fiscal 2014, the following are some of our planning assumptions:
Based upon sales to date, and our assumptions for the rest of the Fourth Quarter, we continue to model Fourth Quarter comp sales to be in the range of 4% to 5%. This will bring the modeled full year comp sales to a range of 2.4% to 2.7%. Consolidated net sales are modeled to increase in a range of approximately 4.4% to 5.4% for the Fourth Quarter. This results in a modeled full-year consolidated net sales increase of approximately 3.4% to 3.6%.
