Reference no: EM13900233

The operating activities section of the statement of cash flows for General Motors Corporation is provided below for three recent years.

General Motors Corporation Operating Activities Section-Statement of Cash Flows (annotated) For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 (in millions)

	2004		2003	2002
Net income Selected adjustments to reconcile income to net cash provided by operating activities:	$  2,805		$   2,862	$  1,975
Depreciation and amortization expenses	14,152		13,513	11,569
Pension contributions	(13,511)		(24,704)	(9,490)
Pension and retiree health benefit  expense	7,023		8,011	5,888
Change in other operating assets and   liabilities	(1,628)		(2,277)	(3,391)
Other	4,220		5,551	4,524
Net cash provided by operating  activities	$ 13,061		$   2,956	$11,075

A large expense for General Motors is its pension expense. Under pension accounting, the pension expense is recognized in the period that the pension is earned. However, the company has latitude regarding the funding of the pension benefit. That is, the expense and the related cash flow to fund the future benefit need not occur in the same period.

1. Calculate General Motors' ratio of cash flow to net income for all three comparative years. Round to two decimal places.

2. Interpret the magnitude and year-to-year changes in the ratio.