The management of Red Robin Inc. is reevaluating the appropriateness of using its present inventory cost flow method, which is average cost. The company requests your help in determining the results of operations for 2006 if either the FIFO or the LIFO method had been used. For 2006 the accounting records show these data:

Purchases were made quarterly as follows.

Operating expenses were $147,000, and the company's income tax rate is 32%.
Instructions

(a) Prepare comparative condensed income statements for 2006 under FIFO and LIFO. (Show computations of ending inventory.)

(b) Answer the following questions for management in business-letter form.
(1) Which cost flow method (FIFO or LIFO) produces the more meaningful inventory amount for the balance sheet? Why?
(2) Which cost flow method (FIFO or LIFO) produces the more meaningful net income?
Why?
(3) Which cost flow method (FIFO or LIFO) is more likely to approximate the actual physical flow of goods? Why?
(4) How much more cash will be available for management under LIFO than under FIFO?
Why?
(5) Will gross profit under the average cost method be higher or lower than FIFO? Than LIFO? (Note: It is not necessary to quantity your answer.)

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Inventories Beginning (10.000 units) Ending (15,000 units) $22,800 Purchases and Sales Total net sales (225,000 units) $865,000 Total cost of goods purchased (230,000 units) 578.500