PC Connection is a leading mail$-$order retailer of personal computers. A recent financial report issued by the company revealed the following information:

Note: Enter your answer in whole dollars.

Merchandise inventory $($beginning of the year$)$ $ $79$ million

Merchandise inventory $($end of the year$)$ $ $91$ million

Net sales for the year $ $2\mathrm{.}46$ billion

Gross profit margin $13\%$

Required:

Compute the company's cost of goods sold for the year.

Approximately how much inventory did PC Connection purchase during the year?