Simon Company's year$-$end balance sheets follow.

$\backslash$table$[[$At December $31,$Current Year,$1,$Year Ago,$2$ Years Ago$],[$Assets$,,,,],[$Cash$,726,845,$$$32,648,$$$31,726,],[$Accounts receivable, net,$77,020,57,133,41,447,],[$Merchandise inventory,$97,826,71,833,45,046,],[$Prepaid expenses,$8,820,8,404,3,596,],[$Plant assets, net,$249,091,226,191,201,885,],[$Total assets,$$459,602,$$$396,209,$$$323,700,],[$Liabilities and Equity,,,,$],[$Accounts payable,$116,730,$$$66,290,$$$41,874,],[$Long$-$term notes payable,$88,133,91,128,70,107,],[$Common stock, $$10$ par value,$92,500,162,500,162,500,],[$Retained earnings,$92,239,76,291,49,219,],[$Total liabilities and equity,$$459,602,$$$396,209,$$$323,700,]]$

The company's income statements for the current year and one year ago, follow.

$\backslash$table$[[$For Year Ended December $31,$Current Year,$1$ Year Ago$],[$Sales$,,$$$597,483,,$$$471,489$