A company's correct ending balance for the inventory account at the end of $2025$ should be $$57,000,$ but the company incorrectly reported it as $$61,000.$ In $2026,$ the company correctly recorded its ending balance of the inventory account. Which one of the following is true about the company's gross profit in $2026?$

$1.$ Overstated by $$4,000$

$2.$ Understated by $$4,000$

$3.$ Understated by $$8,000$

$4.$ Not affected