In the private$-$label operating benchmarks section on p$.7$ of each issue of the FIR, the industry$-$low, industryaverage, and industry$-$high benchmarks for the margins over direct costs $($as explained in the Help section for this same page$)$ should be interpreted as representing

the net profit sellers earn $($or lose$--$in the case of negative numbers$)$ on each pair of private$-$label footwear supplied to a given region's chain retailers.

how much sellers of private$-$label footwear received over and above the costs per pair sold; these margins, if positive, serve to improve a seller's operating profit in the designated region $($negative margins over direct cost act to reduce a seller's operating profits in the region$).$

cash that can be used to pay bank loans or increase dividend payments or be deposited in the company's retained earnings $($to strengthen the company's balance sheet and credit rating$).$

the gross profit a seller receives on each pair of private$-$label footwear sold.

how much the company received from each pair of private$-$label footwear sold over and above the cost of pairs sold $--$ these dollars are automatically deposited in a seller's retained earnings account and help boost the seller's credit rating.