Question: The four underlying assumptions of generally accepted accounting principles are economic entity, monetary unit, periodicity, and going concern. Consider the following four independent situations.
1. Fine Groceries has over 1,000 grocery stores throughout the Northwest. Approximately 200,000 customers visit its stores each day. Because of the continual nature of grocery sales, the company does not publish an income statement. The company feels that it has an indefinite life and a periodic report would mislead investors.
2. Pacific Shipping provides delivery of packages between the United States and Japan. During the current year, the company delivered 3,000 packages for its U.S. customers totaling $25,000 in revenue. For its Japanese customers, the company delivered 1,000 packages totaling ¥1,000,000 (yen). The company's income statement indicates that total revenue equals 4,000 packages delivered with no corresponding amount in the income statement.
3. Schuster Typewriter has provided some of the finest typewriters in town for the past 50 years. Because of the advance of electronic word processors and computers, customer demand has dwindled over the years to almost nothing in the current year and the company can no longer pay its debts. For the most recent year, the company reports its assets in the balance sheet at historical (original) cost.
4. John Brewer Carpet specializes in the installation of carpet and wood flooring. The company has the usual business expenses: salaries, supplies, utilities, advertising, and taxes. John took his wife and two daughters to Disney World. John reported the airfare and hotel expenses in the income statement of John Brewer Carpet.
Required: For each situation, indicate which of the underlying assumptions of GAAP is violated.