Response to the following problem:
Rikkers Company sold 2,500 units of its product at $98 per unit in year 2011 and incurred operating expenses of $14 per unit in selling the units. It began the year with 740 units in inventory and made successive purchases of its product as follows.
Jan. 1 Beginning inventory . . . . . . . . 740 units @ $58 per unit
April 2 Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 units @ $59 per unit
June 14 Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 units @ $61 per unit
Aug. 29 Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 units @ $64 per unit
Nov. 18 Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800 units @ $65 per unit
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,340 units
Required:
1. Prepare comparative income statements for the three inventory costing methods of FIFO, LIFO, and weighted average. (Round per unit costs to three decimals, but inventory balances to the dollar.) Include a detailed cost of goods sold section as part of each statement. The company uses a periodic inventory system, and its income tax rate is 25%.
2. How would the financial results from using the three alternative inventory costing methods change if the company had been experiencing decreasing prices in its purchases of inventory?
3. What advantages and disadvantages are offered by using (a) LIFO and (b) FIFO? Assume the continuing trend of increasing costs.