pre_text: Results of Continuing Operations The analysis presented below is organized to provide the information we believe will facilitate an understanding of our historical performance and relevant trends going forward, and should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, including the notes thereto, in Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10 - K. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain data derived from our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):
table: Year Ended December 31,
table: 2019 2018
table: Sales $788,948 $718,892
table: Gross profit 315,652 365,607
table: Operating expenses 261,264 194,054
table: Operating income from continuing operations 54,388 171,553
table: Other income (expense), net 12,806 823
table: Income from continuing operations before income taxes 67,194 172,376
table: Provision for income taxes 10,699 25,227
table: Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes $ 56,495 $ 147,149
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What was the change in sales between 2018 and 2019?