The units of an item available for sale during the year were as follows:
Jan. 1 Inventory 20 units at $360 $ 7,200
Aug. 13 Purchase 260 units at $342 88,920
Nov. 30 Purchase 40 units at $357 14,280
Available for sale 320 units $110,400
There are 57 units of the item in the physical inventory at December 31. The periodic inventory system is used. Determine the inventory cost using (a) the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method; (b) the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method; and (c) the weighted average cost method.
Answer:
a. First-in, first-out (FIFO) method: $20,094 = (40 units × $357) + (17 units × $342)
b. Last-in, first-out (LIFO) method: $19,854 = (20 units × $360) + (37 units × $342)
c. Weighted average cost method: $19,665 (57 units × $345), where average cost = $345 = $110,400 ÷ 320 units