Blazer Chemical produces and sells an ice-melting granular used on roadways and sidewalks in winter. It annually produces and sells 23,625 tons of its granular. Because of this years mild winter, projected demand for its product is only 18,900 tons. Based on projected production and sales of 18,900 tons, the company estimates the following income using absorption costing.

Sales (18,900 tons at $132 per ton)	$ 1,460,000
Cost of goods sold (18,900 tons at $60 per ton)	1,134,000
Gross profit	326,000
Selling and administrative expenses	326,000
Income	$ 0

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 ($756,000/18,900 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 $212,600 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 23,625 ton level even though it expects to sell only 18,900 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 23,625 tons and sales of 18,900 tons. Can the company report a positive income by increasing production to 23,625 tons and storing the 4,725 tons of excess production in inventory?
2. By how much does income increase by when producing 23,625 tons and storing 4,725 tons in inventory compared to only producing 18,900 tons?