At December 31	Current Yr					1 Yr Ago			2 Yrs Ago
Assets
Cash		$	30,800			$	36,000		$	38,400
Accounts receivable, net			86,100				63,500			49,500
Merchandise inventory			111,500				82,000			54,500
Prepaid expenses			10,250				9,300			5,200
Plant assets, net			278,000				251,000			232,000
Total assets		$	516,650			$	441,800		$	379,600
Liabilities and Equity
Accounts payable		$	129,200			$	73,250		$	50,800
Long-term notes payable secured by mortgages on plant assets			96,500				100,000			81,200
Common stock, $10 par value			160,500				160,500			160,500
Retained earnings			130,450				108,050			87,100
Total liabilities and equity		$	516,650			$	441,800		$	379,600

The companys income statements for the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, follow.

For Year Ended December 31	Current Yr						1 Yr Ago
Sales				$	775,000					$	590,000
Cost of goods sold	$	488,250					$	377,600
Other operating expenses		240,250						135,700
Interest expense		11,500						13,400
Income tax expense		9,550						8,900
Total costs and expenses					749,550						535,600
Net income				$	25,450					$	54,400
Earnings per share				$	1.59					$	3.39

(1-a) Profit margin ratio. (1-b) Did profit margin improve or worsen in the Current Year versus 1 Year Ago? Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required 1A Required 1B Profit margin ratio. Profit Margin Ratio 1 Choose Denominator: Choose Numerator: / Profit Margin Ratio Profit margin ratio % Current Year: 1 1 Year Ago: 1 % Required 1A Required 1B Did profit margin improve or worsen in the Current Year versus 1 Year Ago? Profit margin Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required 3A Required 3B Based on return on total assets, did Simon's operating efficiency improve or worsen in the Current Year versus 1 Year Ago Return on total assets