Question

Assuming purchase costs are declining and a periodic inventory system is used, determine the statements below which correctly describe what is happening to cost of goods sold under FIFO, LIFO and weighted average cost flow methods.
a. In a situation where prices are declining, companies using LIFO will report the smallest cost of goods sold.b. Companies using FIFO will report the smallest cost of goods sold (compared to companies using LIFO or weighted average.)c. Weighted average cost of goods sold will be between FIFO and LIFO costs of goods sold.d. Companies using LIFO will pay higher taxes than companies using FIFO, assuming all else being equal.e. Companies using FIFO will report the highest gross profit and net income.f. Companies using LIFO will report the highest ending inventory on their balance sheets (as compared to companies using FIFO or weighted average,)

Answer 1

Answer:

A. In a situation where prices are declining, companies using LIFO will report the smallest cost of goods sold.

- This is because LIFO calculates goods sold as Last in, First Out. And since the cost is declining, the last in inventory will have the smallest cost of goods sold.

C. Weighted average cost of goods sold will be between FIFO and LIFO costs of goods sold.

- Whether the cost of goods are rising or falling, this will always be the case.

D. Companies using LIFO will pay higher taxes than companies using FIFO, assuming all else being equal.

- This is because when using LIFO in this scenario, higher profits would be recorded and the tax is paid on profit, thus higher taxes.

F. Companies using LIFO will report the highest ending inventory on their balance sheets (as compared to companies using FIFO or weighted average,)

- This is simply because in this scenario, the LIFO sold the cheaper goods first leaving an ending inventory of the relatively expensive goods unlike FIFO which would have sold the expensive first. Again, emphasis on this scenario of declining cost.