Please answer the given financial question based on the context.
Context: the internal revenue code . therefore , cash needed to execute our strategy and invest in new properties , as well as to pay our debt at maturity , must come from one or more of the following sources : 2022 cash not distributed to shareholders , 2022 proceeds of property dispositions , or 2022 proceeds derived from the issuance of new debt or equity securities . it is management 2019s intention that we continually have access to the capital resources necessary to expand and develop our business . as a result , we intend to operate with and maintain a conservative capital structure that will allow us to maintain strong debt service coverage and fixed-charge coverage ratios as part of our commitment to investment-grade debt ratings . we may , from time to time , seek to obtain funds by the following means : 2022 additional equity offerings , 2022 unsecured debt financing and/or mortgage financings , and 2022 other debt and equity alternatives , including formation of joint ventures , in a manner consistent with our intention to operate with a conservative debt structure . cash and cash equivalents were $ 30.5 million and $ 35.0 million at december 31 , 2004 and december 31 , 2003 , respectively . summary of cash flows for the year ended december 31 , 2004 ( in thousands ) .
||for the year ended december 31 2004 ( in thousands )|
|cash provided by operating activities|$ 161113|
|cash used in investing activities|-154273 ( 154273 )|
|cash used by financing activities|-11333 ( 11333 )|
|decrease in cash and cash equivalents|-4493 ( 4493 )|
|cash and cash equivalents beginning of period|34968|
|cash and cash equivalents end of period|$ 30475|
the cash provided by operating activities is primarily attributable to the operation of our properties and the change in working capital related to our operations . we used cash of $ 154.3 million during the twelve months ended december 31 , 2004 in investing activities , including the following : 2022 $ 101.7 million for our acquisition of westgate mall , shaw 2019s plaza and several parcels of land , 2022 capital expenditures of $ 59.2 million for development and redevelopment of properties including santana row , 2022 maintenance capital expenditures of approximately $ 36.9 million , 2022 $ 9.4 million capital contribution to a real estate partnership , and 2022 an additional $ 3.2 million net advance under an existing mortgage note receivable ; offset by 2022 $ 41.8 million in net sale proceeds from the sale of properties , and .
Question: what was the percentual decrease in the cash and cash equivalents during this period?
Answer:
0.12849