Blazer Chemical produces and sells an ice-melting granular used on roadways and sidewalks in winter. It annually produces and sells 24,000 tons of its granular. Because of this years mild winter, projected demand for its product is only 19,200 tons. Based on projected production and sales of 19,200 tons, the company estimates the following income using absorption costing.

Sales (19,200 tons at $136 per ton)	$ 2,611,200
Cost of goods sold (19,200 tons at $60 per ton)	1,152,000
Gross profit	1,459,200
Selling and administrative expenses	212,800
Income	$ 1,246,400

Its product cost per ton follows and consists mainly of fixed overhead because its automated production process uses expensive equipment.

Direct materials	$ 13	per ton
Direct labor	$ 4	per ton
Variable overhead	$ 3	per ton
Fixed overhead ($768,000/19,200 tons)	$ 40	per ton

Selling and administrative expenses consist of variable selling and administrative expenses of $6 per ton and fixed selling and administrative expenses of $328,000 per year. The companys president will not earn a bonus unless a positive income is reported. The controller mentions that because the company has large storage capacity, it can report a positive income by setting production at the usual 24,000 ton level even though it expects to sell only 19,200 tons. The president is surprised that the company can report income by producing more without increasing sales. Required: 1. Prepare an income statement using absorption costing based on production of 24,000 tons and sales of 19,200 tons. Can the company report a positive income by increasing production to 24,000 tons and storing the 4,800 tons of excess production in inventory? 2. By how much does income increase by when producing 24,000 tons and storing 4,800 tons in inventory compared to only producing 19,200 tons?