Analyzing an Inventory Footnote Disclosure General Electric Company reports the following footnote in its 10-K report.

December 31 (in millions)	2008	2007
Raw materials and work in process	$ 8,710	$ 7,893
Finished goods	5,032	5,025
Unbilled shipments	561	539
	14,303	13,457
Less revaluation to LIFO	(706)	(623)
	$ 13,597	$ 12,834

The company reports its inventories using the LIFO inventory costing method. (a) What is the balance in inventories reported on GE's 2008 balance sheet? $Answer(million) (b) What would GE's 2008 balance sheet have reported for inventories had the company used FIFO inventory costing? $Answer(million) (c) What cumulative effect has GE's choice of LIFO over FIFO had on its pretax income as of year end 2008?

The cumulative effect is that pretax income has not changed. LIFO and FIFO are simply two different ways to account for inventories. Both methods lead to the same pretax income.

The cumulative effect on pretax income is nonexistent. The LIFO and FIFO methods of inventory accounting cause only cash flow effects, and they do not affect pretax income.

The cumulative effect is that pretax income has increased. FIFO matches more "current" inventory costs against current selling prices, thus avoiding the recognition of holding gains.

The cumulative effect is that pretax income has decreased. LIFO matches more "current" inventory costs against current selling prices, thus avoiding the recognition of holding gains.

(d) Assume GE has a 35% income tax rate. As of the 2008 year-end, how much has GE saved in taxes by choosing LIFO over FIFO method for costing inventory? (Round your answer to the nearest whole number.) $Answer(million) Has the use of LIFO increased or decreased GE's cumulative taxes paid?

decreased

or

increased

(e) What effect has the use of LIFO inventory costing had on GE's pretax income and tax expense for 2008 only (assume a 35% income tax rate)? (Round answers to the nearest whole number.) 2008 pretax income:

increased

or

decreased

by $Answer million. 2008 tax expense:

increased

or

decreased

by $Answer million.