Basic income per share is based upon the weighted average common shares outstanding during each year. Diluted income per share is based upon the weighted average of common shares and dilutive common stock equivalent shares outstanding during each year. The weighted average number of shares used to compute both basic and diluted income per share consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

The computation of diluted earnings per share excludes the effect of the potential exercise of stock awards, including stock options, when the average market price of the common stock is lower than the exercise price of the related options during the period. These outstanding stock awards are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive. For the years ended and the number of stock awards excluded from the computation was and respectively.