Using the information in the table $($an excerpt from the Gracenat Company statement of cash flows$)$ complete $($a$)$ and $($b$)$ below.$$

$($$ in $000\text{'}$s$)$

$2024$

$2023$

Free Cash Flow

$$4,000$

$$4,000$

Financing Activities

$$

$$

Repayment of L$/$T Debt

$(3,500)$

$(5,000)$

Proceeds from issuances of L$/$T Debt

$4,250$

$3,000$

Repurchase of Common Stock$$

$(750)$

$(250)$

Cash Dividend Paid

$(750)$

$(750)$

Issuance of Common Stock

$4,000$

$5,000$

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

$$$$3,250$

$$2,000$

$$

$$

$$

Change in Cash Balance

$7,250$

$6,000$

$$

Cash Flow from Financing Activity increased from $$2,000$ in $2023$ up to $$3,250$ in $2024.$ What was the single greatest contributor to this increase?

Identify one item in the above statement that seems counter intuitive and explain exactly why you consider it unusual.