Computation of Earnings per Common Share

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2011, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):



	2011		2010		2009
Numerator:
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.	$	984,656	$	881,948	$	738,671
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	694,986		715,596		709,744
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee stock options, Restricted Shares and Performance Shares	9,033		10,624		12,094
Weighted-average common shares outstanding assuming dilution	704,019		726,220		721,838

Basic earnings per common share	$	1.42	$	1.23	$	1.04
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.40	$	1.21	$	1.02

Options to purchase shares of common stock are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share when their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect on the calculation. Options to purchase 41.3 million shares, 13.3 million shares and 12.7 million shares of Staples common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.