Inventory Pricing and Interim Financial Reporting – Inventory Valuation

Companies should generally use the same inventory pricing methods or interim financial reporting and make provisions for write downs to make market at interim dates on the same basis as used at annual dates when preparing published financial statements. However, the following exceptions are appropriate at interim reporting dates:

1. Some companies use estimated gross profit rates to determine the cost of goods sold during interim periods or use other methods different from those used at annual inventory dates. These companies should disclose the method used at the interim date and any significant adjustments that result from reconciliations with the annual physical inventory.
2. Companies that use the LIFO method may encounter a liquidation of base period inventories at an interim date that is expected to be replaced by the end of the annual period. In such cases the inventory at the interim reporting date should not give effect to the LIFO liquidation, and cost of sales for the interim reporting period should include the expected cost of replacement of the liquidated LIFO base.
   
   Thus, if the liquidation of base period inventories is considered temporary and expected to be replaced prior to year, the company should charge cost of goods sold at current prices. The difference between the carrying value of the inventory and its current replacement cost is a current liability for replacement of temporarily depleted LIFO base inventory. When the liquidated inventory is replaced, inventory is debited for the original LIFO value and the liability is removed from the books.
3. Inventory losses from market declines should not be deferred beyond the interim period in which the decline occurs. Recoveries of such losses on the same inventory in later interim periods of the same fiscal year through market price recoveries should be recognized as gains in the later interim period such gains should not exceed previously recognized losses. Some market declines at interim dates, however, can reasonably be expected to be restored in the fiscal year. Such temporary market declines need not be recognized at the interim date since no loss is expected to be incurred in the fiscal year.

You may also be interested in other useful articles from “controlling and costing materials” chapter:

1. Purchases of productive material
2. Purchases of supplies, services, and repairs
3. Materials purchasing forms
4. Receiving materials
5. Invoice approval and data processing
6. Correcting invoices
7. Electronic data processing (EDP)  for materials received and issued
8. Cost of acquiring materials
9. Storage and use of materials
10. Issuing and costing materials into production
11. Materials ledger card – perpetual inventory
12. First-in-First-Out (FIFO) Costing Method
13. Average Costing Method
14. Last-in-First-Out (LIFO) Costing Method
15. Other Methods-Month end average cost, last purchase price or market price at date of issue, and standard cost
16. Inventory valuation at cost or market whichever is lower
17. American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA) cost or market rules
18. Adjustments for departures from the costing method used
19. Inventory pricing and interim financial reporting
20. Transfer of materials cost to finished production
21. Physical inventory
22. Adjusting Materials Ledger Cards and Accounts to Conform to Inventory Accounts
23. Scrap and waste
24. Spoiled goods
25. Defective work
26. Discussion Questions and Answers about Controlling and Costing Materials

Other Related Accounting Articles:

• Cost or Market Whichever is Lower–Inventory Valuation
• Last In First Out (LIFO) – Materials and Inventory Costing Method
• Physical Inventory – Inventory Valuation
• Other Materials Costing Methods – Month End Average Cost | Market Price at Date of Issue | Standard Cost
• Electronic Data Processing System (EDP System) for Materials Received and Issued
• Transfer of Materials Cost to Finished Production–Inventory Valuation
• First In First Out (FIFO) – Materials and Inventory Costing Method
• Storage and Use of Materials
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Cost or Market Rules–Inventory Valuation
• Receiving Materials