Question

As part of the calculation for cost of goods sold it is necessary to determine the value of goods on hand, termed merchandise inventory. Accountants use two basic methods for determining the amount of merchandise inventory. Identify the two methods and describe the circumstances (including examples of users of each method) under which each method would be used.

Answer 1

Answer:

The two methods or systems for determining the amount of merchandise inventory are:

the perpetual inventory system and periodic inventory system.

Explanation:

The perpetual inventory system requires that separate accounts be kept for Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold to enable a continuous or perpetual update of inventory transactions.  This is unlike the periodic inventory system, where the update of inventory transactions are done periodically, and only the Inventory Purchase account is maintained for inventory transactions, with the Inventory balances and Cost of Goods Sold determined periodically.