The new team has put a lot of things in place. With it you have a decline in the industry units in both -- in almost all the other categories, but LVT as you go through. In each acquisition, we are progressing with new investments to enhance our capabilities and introduce new products. Please go ahead, your line is open.Good morning, everybody. So it will be in a good shape when it does.You're next question comes from the line of Justin Speer from Zelman & Associates. We would love to hear from you. We've benefited in the period from lower material costs, offset by labor and energy costs that continue to rise. Does the US operate on a similar cycle? Also, you've got a strong dollar right now has increased pressure on pricing. Organic growth in legacy businesses on a constant basis was down 2.9% in the second quarter, bringing our year-to-date growth down 1% on a constant basis versus the first half of 2018.In terms of earnings the Company's adjusted operating income, as Jeff already shared, was $277 million in the second quarter or 10.7% of sales up seasonally, from the first quarter by 220 basis points with an improvement in our year-over-year decline in margins by over 100 basis points, both as we expected.
Total debt was $3.1 billion at the end of the quarter, down $200 million since exiting the first quarter with leverage declining to 1.8 times debt-to-adjusted EBITDA.Wrapping up, now the balance sheet is strong, with free cash flow of $252 million year-to-date, an improvement of $60 million over prior year. It may happen the latter half of next year, may they take longer to get fully optimized.Your next question comes from the line of Stephen Kim from Evercore ISI. Dumping duties of 300% have been implemented on Chinese quartz products enhancing the value of our manufacturing plant. All partially offset by improving productivity and lower start-up costs of $16 million. I don't know how fast we can align the sales with the -- and the mix to get it optimized. The production will increase into next year when we anticipate operating the plant new capacity.Our countertops are about 30% larger than the industry, improving conversion and material cost for our customers. Volume adjusted for lower shutdown costs accounted for $21 million of the downside and productivity less reduced start-up costs was a further $18 million. Please go ahead, your line is open.Hi. We have to work it over cycle.
Founded in 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, The Motley Fool helps millions of people attain financial freedom through our website, podcasts, books, newspaper column, radio show, and premium investing services.Are You Making These Dangerous Investment Mistakes? It's just a different moments in the cycle.Got it, OK. And then maybe as a follow-up. I'll now turn the call back to Mr. Lorberbaum for closing comments.I think I'd like to leave at that, we're optimistic about our long-term prospects. I don't know if I cut out, but I don't think I heard the answers. So some of it, you won't get the full benefit for the year.Your next question comes from the line of Mike Dahl from RBC Capital Markets. Can you talk about what happened in that segment in the last 2 months of the quarter and how long it's going to take to reverse this trend?Coming out of the first quarter, we thought we were seeing trends that we're going to improve it. Please go ahead, your line is open.Thank you and good morning. So I guess maybe just-- maybe first on just the inventory. In April, you said that the Flooring North America business had improved entering the second quarter, supported by an improving housing environment.
And then, these features and benefits that you keep adding through, it allows you to get a greater margin on them versus then you're less differentiated. We are reducing production to control inventory levels, introducing new product categories and increasing promotions to address changing markets We are reducing overhead structures and controlling investments. Subject.
[Operator Instructions] Thank you.I would now like to introduce Ken Huelskamp, Investor Relations Vice President.
Hi, thank you for taking my question. The new capacity we recently installed is being fully utilized to support our higher sales.During the quarter our Flooring North America segment sales decreased 7%.
And then in the US, our plan is to continue sourcing significant amounts. In the second quarter, our business delivered results to the high-end of our guidance. We are increasing our promotional activity and we have introduced new products to defend our market position. One of the largest suppliers outside of North America of premium laminate, sheet vinyl, carpet, wood and luxury vinyl tile flooring. People just use different formulations of different pieces. Our premium RevWood collection is increasingly being used as an alternative to wood and rigid LVT in both new construction and remodeling due to its superior visuals, scratch resistance and waterproof features.
Earlier this year, we introduced porcelain roofing tile as an alternative to slate, clay and concrete roofing providing similar visuals at a lower total cost. There is excess inventory in the market now that was purchased ahead of these tariffs and that's complicating the conditions and estimates. MWK Investor Presentation January 2020. As we proceed through the year, we anticipate further improvement in production and cost, as well as introducing new features that are being developed in Europe. Thank you. Material availability and cost have returned to normal after last year's industry shortage. The balance is related to acquisition integration.The cash component for this restructuring is about $28 million, which should be recovered in about a year, as lower cost work through inventory. The actions to take out costs. Should we model that as a positive productivity next year?We're restructuring North America, we're consolidating operations, closing (multiple speakers) consolidating warehouses. Who Are We? Long-term the dollar -- I've been in this thing for years, the dollar goes from a low point to a high point. In Europe, political and Brexit concerns slowed the economic growth.