Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries* CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (IN PART) (Dollars in thousands) December 31 2008 2007 2006 Liabilities and Shareholders' Investment Current Liabilities: $ 1,691,069 $ 1,827,361 $ 5,305,985 Short-term borrowings Trade accounts payable Salaries, wages, and commissions Other accrued liabilities 1,351,436 1,011,312 1,219,529 859,784 3,713,104 504,540 80,406 1,175,590 807,283 4,216,742 559,064 805,397 3,850,723 453,994 Dividends payable Income taxes payable Obligation in connection with conclusion of TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. joint venture Current portion of long-term debt Total Current Liabilities 262,344 915,982 1,040,906 11,591,908 8,713,327 898,554 9,103,278 9,487,789 95,276 11,951,195 7,009,664 Long-term Debt Postemployment Obligations and Other Long-term Liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Shareholders' Investment: 4,634,418 3,344,317 3,163,127 Preferred shares, one dollar par value *"Abbott Laboratories is an Illinois corporation, incorporated in 1900. Abbott's principal business is the discovery, develop- ment, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products." 10-K December 31 2008 2007 2006 Liabilities and Shareholders' Investment (continued) Authorized 1,000,000 shares, none issued Common shares, without par value Authorized 2,400,000,000 shares Issued at stated capital amount- Shares: 2008: 1,601,580,899; 2007: 1,580,854,677; 2006: 1,550,590,438 Common shares held in treasury, at cost - Shares: 2008: 49,147,968; 2007: 30,944,537; 2006: 13, 347,272 Earnings employed in the business Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Total Shareholders' Investment 7,444,411 6,104,102 4,290,929 (2,626,404) 13,825,383 (1,213,134) 10,805,809 (1,163,839) 17,479,551 $42,419,204 2,081,763 17,778,540 $39,713,924 (195,237) 9,568,728 389,766 14,054,186 $36,178,172 Required a. 1. The statement is entitled "Consolidated Balance Sheet." What does it mean to have a con- solidated balance sheet? b. 1. What current liability decreased the most? 2. What current liability increased the most? c. 1. How many common shares had been issued as of December 31, 2008? 2. How many shares were held in the treasury at December 31, 2008? 3. How many shares were outstanding at December 31, 2008? 4. What is the treasury stock method? d. 1. Abbott Laboratories discloses the account "Eamings employed in the business." What is this account usually called?