Akron, Inc., owns all outstanding stock of Toledo Corporation. Amortization expense of $$15,000$ per year for patented technology resulted from the original acquisition. For $2024,$ the companies had the following account balances:

$\backslash$table$[[,$Akron,Toledo$],[$Sales$,$$$1,100,000,$$$600,000],[$Cost of goods sold,$500,000,400,000],[$Operating expenses,$400,000,220,000],[$Investment income,Not given,$-0-],[$Dividends declared,$80,000,30,000]]$

Intra$-$entity sales of $$320\mathrm{.}000$ occurred during $2023$ and again in $2024.$ This merchandise cost $$240,000$ each year. Of the total transfers, $$70,000$ was still held on December $31,2023,$ with $$50,000$ unsold on December $31,2024.$

a$.$ For consolidation purposes, does the direction of the transfers $($upstream or downstream$)$ affect the balances to be reported here?

b$.$ Prepare a consolidated income statement for the year ending December $31,2024.$