Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Penske Automotive Group First Quarter 2011 Earnings Conference Call. The call today is being recorded and will be available for replay in approximately one hour after completion through May 12,
Morningstar director of economic analysis Bob Johnson addresses recent sluggishness in the economy and makes the case for better growth in the second half of the year.
Looking past the month-to-month volatility in retail sales reveals a trend of slow, tapering growth, with some hope for improvement in the months ahead.