(28) Inventories Flashcards
LOS 28. a: Distinguish between costs included in inventories and costs recognized as expenses in the period in which they are incurred.
Costs included in inventory on the balance sheet include purchase cost, conversion costs, and other costs necessary to bring the inventory to its present location and condition. All of these costs for inventory acquired or produced in the current period are added to beginning inventory value and then allocated either to cost of goods sold for the period or to the ending inventory.
LOS 28. a: Distinguish between costs included in inventories and costs recognized as expenses in the period in which they are incurred.
Period costs, such as abnormal waste, most storage costs, administrative costs, and selling costs, are expensed as incurred.
LOS 28. b: Describe the different inventory valuation methods (cost formulas). FIFO
FIFO: The cost of the first item purchased is the cost of the first item sold. Ending inventory is based on the cost of the most recent purchases, thereby approximating current cost.
LOS 28. b: Describe the different inventory valuation methods (cost formulas). LIFO
LIFO: The cost of the last item purchased is the cost of the first item sold. Ending inventory is based on the cost of the earliest items purchased. LIFO is prohibited under IFRS.
LOS 28. b: Describe the different inventory valuation methods (cost formulas). Weighted average cost
Weighted average cost: COGS and inventory values are between their FIFO and LIFO values.
LOS 28. b: Describe the different inventory valuation methods (cost formulas). Specific identification
Specific identification: Each unit sold is matched with the unit’s actual cost.


LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. Under LIFO, what does the cost of sales and balance sheet inventory values reflect?
Under LIFO, cost of sales reflects the most recent purchases or production costs, and balance sheet inventory values reflect older outdated costs.
LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. Under FIFO, what does the cost of sales and balance sheet inventory values reflect?
Under FIFO, cost of sales reflects the oldest purchase or production cost for inventory, and balance sheet inventory values reflect the most recent costs.
LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. Under weighted average cost method, what does the cost of sales and balance sheet inventory values reflect?
Under the weighted average cost method, cost of sales and balance sheet inventory values are between those of LIFO and FIFO.
LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. When purchase or production costs are rising, how do the cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory compare under LIFO and FIFO?
When purchase or production costs are rising, LIFO cost of sales is higher than FIFO cost of sales, and LIFO gross profit is lower than FIFO gross profit as a result. LIFO inventory is lower than FIFO inventory.
LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. When purchase or production costs are falling, how do the cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory compare under LIFO and FIFO?
When purchase or production costs are falling, LIFO cost of sales is lower than FIFO cost of sales, and LIFO gross profit is higher than FIFO gross profit as a result. LIFO inventory is higher than FIFO inventory.
LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. In what areas does LIFO represent a better economic reality? Where does FIFO represent a better economic reality?
In either case, LIFO cost of sales and FIFO inventory values better represent economic reality (replacement costs).
LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. What is the difference between periodic and perpetual inventory systems?
In a periodic system, inventory values and COGS are determined at the end of the accounting period. In a perpetual system, inventory values and COGS are updated continuously.
LOS 28. c: Calculate and compare cost of sales, gross profit, and ending inventory using different inventory valuation methods and using perpetual and periodic inventory systems. How does periodic and perpetual systems valued inventory compare under each inventory valuation method?
In the case of FIFO and specific identification, ending inventory values and COGS are the same whether a periodic or perpetual system is used. LIFO and weighted average cost, however, can produce different inventory values and COGS depending on whether a periodic or perpetual system is used.


Explain the Diagram
CR = current ratio
WC = Working Capital

LOS 28. d: Calculate and explain how inflation and deflation of inventory costs affect the financial statements and ratios of companies that use different inventory valuation methods.

LOS 28. d: Calculate and explain how inflation and deflation of inventory costs affect the financial statements and ratios of companies that use different inventory valuation methods.

LOS 28. d: Calculate and explain how inflation and deflation of inventory costs affect the financial statements and ratios of companies that use different inventory valuation methods. Weighted average cost
The weighted average cost method results in values between those of LIFO and FIFO if prices are increasing or decreasing.
LOS 28. e: Explain LIFO reserve and LIFO liquidation and their effects on financial statements and ratios.
A firm that reports under LIFO must disclose a LIFO reserve, which is the difference between LIFO inventory reported and inventory had the firm used the FIFO method. LIFO reserve will be positive during periods of rising inventory costs and negative during periods of falling inventory costs.
LOS 28. e: Explain LIFO reserve and LIFO liquidation and their effects on financial statements and ratios.
A LIFO liquidation occurs when a firm using LIFO sells more inventory during a period than it produces. During periods of rising prices, this drawdown of inventory reduces cost of goods sold because the lower cost of previously produced inventory is used, resulting in an unsustainable increase in gross profit margin.
LOS 28. f: Convert a company’s reported financial statements from LIFO to FIFO for purposes of comparison.
To convert a firm’s financial statements from LIFO to what they would have been under FIFO:
- Add the LIFO reserve to LIFO inventory
- Subtract the change in the LIFO reserve for the period of COGS
- Decrease cash by LIFO reserve x tax rate
- Increase retained earnings (liquidity) by LIFO reserve x (1 – tax rate)
LOS 28. g: Describe the measurement of inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Under IFRS.
Under IFRS, inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory write-ups are allowed, but only to the extent that a previous writedown to net realizable value was recorded.

