Comparison of actual-costing methods. The Rehe Company sells its razors for $3 per unit. The company uses a first-in, first-out actual costing system. A fixed manufacturing cost rate is computed at the end of each year by dividing the actual fixed manufacturing costs by the actual production units. The following data are related to its first two years of operation:

	2011	2012
Sales	1,000 units	1,200 units
Production	1,400 units	1,000 units
Costs:
Variable manufacturing	$ 700	$ 500
Fixed manufacturing	700	700
Variable operating (marketing) Fixed operating (marketing)	1,000 400	1,200 400

1. Prepare income statements based on variable costing for each of the two years.

2. Prepare income statements based on absorption costing for each of the two years.

3. Prepare a numerical reconciliation and explanation of the difference between operating income for each year under absorption costing and variable costing.

4. Critics have claimed that a widely used accounting system has led to undesirable buildups of inventory levels. (a) Is variable costing or absorption costing more likely to lead to such buildups? Why? (b) What can be done to counteract undesirable inventory buildups?