Financials

Some industry news is bad enough to make many dealers want to switch off the store lights and go home. NADA's average dealership profile indicates that total dealership expenses as a percent of total sales increased from 11.2% to 11.4% in 2002. Net profit before taxes as a percent of total sales declined from 2% to 1.9% in 2002. Sales are expected to soften (Ward's forecasts 2003 U.S. vehicle sales

byANDREW J. BLAZSANYIK