Exercise 7-3 Reconciliation of Absorption and Variable Costing Net Operating Incomes (LO7-3] [The following information applies to the questions displayed below. Jorgansen Lighting, Inc., manufactures heavy-duty street lighting systems for municipalities. The company uses variable costing for internal management reports and absorption costing for external reports to shareholders, creditors, and the government. The company has provided the following data Year 1 Year 2 Year Inventories: Beginning (units) Ending (units) 200 170 170 180 220 $1,080,400 $1,032,400 $996,400 Variable costing net operating income The company's fixed manufacturing overhead per unit was constant at $560 for all three years Exercise 7-3 Part 2 2. Assume in Year 4 that the company's variable costing net operating income was $984,400 and its absorption costing net operating income was $1,012,400 a. Did inventories increase or decrease during Year 4? Increase Decrease b. How much fixed manufacturing overhead cost was deferred or released from inventory during Year 4? Fixed manufacturing overhead cost inventory during Year 4