pre_text: NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (in thousands, except for share and per share data) NOTE 18 — Income Taxes Earnings before income taxes consist of the following:
table: Years Ended December 31,
table: 2019 2018 2017
table: U.S. $15,103 $30,815 $9,315
table: Non-U.S. 35,163 27,288 30,938
table: Total $50,266 $58,103 $40,253
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What was the change in the earnings from U.S. between 2017 and 2018?