Question
A company reports merchandise inventory on December 31 at
but
LCM applied to items is
.
LCM applied to items is
Ask by Barker Fleming. in the United States
Mar 26,2025
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Answer
The company should report the inventory at $200,000, recognizing a $50,000 loss by debiting Loss on Inventory Write-down and crediting Merchandise Inventory.
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Beyond the Answer
It’s important to note that LCM, or Lower of Cost or Market, is an accounting principle that ensures inventory is reported at the lower value between its historical cost and its current market value. In this case, the inventory’s market value of
is significantly lower than the recorded cost of
, indicating a potential write-down and reflecting economic realities.
When firms ignore the LCM rule, they risk overstating their inventory values, which can mislead stakeholders and skew financial statements. For accurate reporting, companies should regularly evaluate their inventory and ensure they recognize losses promptly. This practice not only maintains integrity in financial reporting but also enhances decision-making by providing a more realistic picture of a company’s assets.