Required information [The following information applies to the questions displayed below.] Jorgansen Lighting, Incorporated, 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: Inventories: Beginning (units) Ending (units) Variable costing net operating income Year 1 200 170 $ 1,080,400 Year 2 Year 3 170 180 180 220 $ 1,032,400 $ 996,400 The company's fixed manufacturing overhead per unit was constant at $560 for all three years. 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? b. How much fixed manufacturing overhead cost was deferred or released from inventory during Year 4? Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required a Required b Did inventories increase or decrease during Year 4? Did inventories increase or decrease during Year 4? < Required a Required b >