Lehighton Chalk Company manufactures sidewalk chalk, which it sells online by the box at $25 per unit. Lehighton uses an actual costing system, which means that the actual costs of direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead are entered into work-in-process inventory. The actual application rate for manufacturing overhead is computed each year; actual manufacturing overhead is divided by actual production (in units) to compute the application rate. Information for Lehightons first two years of operation is as follows:

	Year 1			Year 2
Sales (in units)		2,500			2,500
Production (in units)		3,100			1,900
Production costs:
Variable manufacturing costs	$	15,190		$	9,310
Fixed manufacturing overhead		18,290			18,290
Selling and administrative costs:
Variable		10,000			10,000
Fixed		9,000			9,000

Selected information from Lehightons year-end balance sheets for its first two years of operation is as follows:

LEHIGHTON CHALK COMPANY
Selected Balance Sheet Information
Based on absorption costing	End of Year 1			End of Year 2
Finished-goods inventory	$	6,480		$	0
Retained earnings		11,000			17,720
Based on variable costing	End of Year 1			End of Year 2
Finished-goods inventory	$	2,940		$	0
Retained earnings		7,460			17,720

Required: 4. Compute the amount by which the year-end balance in finished-goods inventory declined during year 2 (i.e., between December 31 of year 1 and December 31 of year 2):

• Using the data from the balance sheet prepared under absorption costing.
• Using the data from the balance sheet prepared under variable costing.

5. Refer to your calculations from requirement 4. Compute the difference in the amount by which the year-end balances in finished-goods inventory declined under absorption versus variable costing. Then compare the amount of this difference with the difference in the companys reported operating income for year 2 under absorption versus variable costing.

Required 4 Required 5 Required 6 Compute the amount by which the year-end balance in finished-goods inventory declined during year 2 (i.e., between December 31 of year 1 and December 31 of year 2): . Using the data from the balance sheet prepared under absorption costing. . Using the data from the balance sheet prepared under variable costing. Show less Amount of Decline Absorption costing Variable costing Required 4 Required 5 > Required 4 Required 5 Required 6 Refer to your calculations from requirement 4. Compute the difference in the amount by which the year-end balances in finished-goods inventory declined under absorption versus variable costing. Then compare the amount of this difference with the difference in the company's reported operating income for year 2 under absorption versus variable costing. (Negative amounts should be indicated by a minus sign.) Show less Amount of Difference Amount of decline in finished-goods inventory balance during year 2 Reported operating income for year 2 (absorption versus variable costing) Required 4 Required 5 Required 6 Compute the amount by which the year-end balance in finished-goods inventory declined during year 2 (i.e., between December 31 of year 1 and December 31 of year 2): . Using the data from the balance sheet prepared under absorption costing. . Using the data from the balance sheet prepared under variable costing. Show less Amount of Decline Absorption costing Variable costing Required 4 Required 5 > Required 4 Required 5 Required 6 Refer to your calculations from requirement 4. Compute the difference in the amount by which the year-end balances in finished-goods inventory declined under absorption versus variable costing. Then compare the amount of this difference with the difference in the company's reported operating income for year 2 under absorption versus variable costing. (Negative amounts should be indicated by a minus sign.) Show less Amount of Difference Amount of decline in finished-goods inventory balance during year 2 Reported operating income for year 2 (absorption versus variable costing)