Your comparison of the gross margin percent for Jones Drugs for the years 2008 through 2011 indicates a significant decline. This is shown by the following information:

	2011	2010	2009	2008
Sales (thousands)	$ 14,211	$ 12,916	$ 11,462	$ 10,351
CGS (thousands)	9,223	8,266	7,313	6,573
Gross margin	$ 4,988	$ 4,650	$ 4,149	$ 3,778
Percent	35.1	36.0	36.2	36.5

A discussion with Marilyn Adams, the controller, brings to light two possible explanations. She informs you that the industry gross profit percent in the retail drug industry declined fairly steadily for 3 years, which accounts for part of the decline. A second factor was the declining percent of the total volume resulting from the pharmacy part of the business. The pharmacy sales represent the most profitable portion of the business, yet the competition from discount drugstores prevents it from expanding as fast as the nondrug items such as magazines, candy, and many other items sold. Adams feels strongly that these two factors are the cause of the decline.

The following additional information is obtained from independent sources and the clients records as a means of investigating the controllers explanations:

	Jones Drugs ($ in thousands)				Industry Gross Profit Percent for Retailers of Drugs and Related Products
	Drug Sales	Nondrug Sales	Drug Cost of Goods Sold	Nondrug Cost of Goods Sold
2011	$5,126	$9,085	$3,045	$6,178	32.7
2010	5,051	7,865	2,919	5,347	32.9
2009	4,821	6,641	2,791	4,522	33.0
2008	4,619	5,732	2,665	3,908	33.2

Required

a. Evaluate the explanation provided by Adams. Show calculations to support your conclusions.

b. Which specific aspects of the clients financial statements require intensive investigation in this audit?