Loblaws, one of the nation's largest grocery retailers, reported the following information (adapted) for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2017.

_____________________________ January 31, 2017 __________January 31, 2016

Net sales ................................................. $48,815 ............................. $47,220

Net earnings ............................................ $ 2,000 ................................... $ 1,773

Interest expense .......................................... $ 10 ......................................... $ 10

Average total assets .............................. $33,699 .................................... $33,005

Requirements

1. Compute return on assets for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2017.

2. Did return on assets improve or deteriorate? What are some possible causes for this change?