The Company's annual effective tax rate for January 31, 2011 decreased to 34.6% from 36.2% in the prior year. This decrease was due to the favorable mix of earnings in certain foreign jurisdictions and the current year federal rehabilitation credit.
On February 28, 2006, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program. The program authorizes the Company to purchase up to 8 million shares of our common shares from time-to-time, based upon prevailing market conditions. We repurchased 1.2 million common shares during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007. During the quarter ended January 31, 2011, the Company did not repurchase any shares.
During the year ended January 31, 2011 the Company repurchased and subsequently retired 6.3 million common shares for $205 million. On November 16, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 10 million additional shares of the Company's common stock, from time-to-time, subject to prevailing market conditions. This authorization supplements the Company's 2006 stock repurchase program.
During the year ended January 31, 2011, the Company opened a total of 46 new stores including: 21 Urban Outfitters stores, 16 Anthropologie stores and 9 Free People stores.