Sky Armour Industries manufactures high$-$grade aluminum luggage made from recycled metal. The company operates two divisions: metal recycling and luggage fabrication. Each division operates as a decentralized entity. The metal recycling division is free to sell sheet aluminum to outside buyers, and the luggage fabrication division is free to purchase recycled sheet aluminum from other sources. Currently, however, the recycling division sells all of its output to the fabrication division, and the fabrication division does not purchase materials from any outside suppliers.Aluminum is transferred from the recycling division to the fabrication division at $110\%$ of full cost. The recycling division purchases recyclable aluminum for $$0\mathrm{.}50$ per pound. The division's other variable costs equal $$2\mathrm{.}80$ per pound, and fixed costs at a monthly production level of $50,000$ pounds are $$1\mathrm{.}50$ per pound. During the most recent month, $50,000$ pounds of aluminum were transferred between the two divisions. The recycling division's capacity is $70,000$ pounds.Due to increased demand, the fabrication division expects to use $60,000$ pounds of aluminum next month.Metalife Corporation has offered to sell $10,000$ pounds of recycled aluminum next month to the fabrication division for $$5\mathrm{.}00$ per pound.The fabrication division manager suggests that $$5\mathrm{.}00$ is now the market price for recycled sheet aluminum and that this should be the new transfer price. Sky Armour Industries' corporate management tends to agree. The metal recycling manager is suspicious. Metalife's prices have always been considerably higher than $$5\mathrm{.}00$ per pound.Why the sudden price cut? After further investigation by the recycling division manager, it is revealed that the $$5\mathrm{.}00$ per pound price was a one$-$time$-$only offer made to the fabrication division due to excess inventory at Metalife. Future orders would be priced at $$5\mathrm{.}50$ per pound.The fabrication division manager suggests that $$5\mathrm{.}00$ is now the market price for recycled sheet aluminum and that this should be the new transfer price. Sky Armour Industries' corporate management tends to agree. The metal recycling manager is suspicious. Metalife's prices have always been considerably higher than $$5\mathrm{.}00$ per pound.Why the sudden price cut? After further investigation by the recycling division manager, it is revealed that the $$5\mathrm{.}00$ per pound price was a one$-$time$-$only offer made to the fabrication division due to excess inventory at Metalife. Future orders would be priced at $$5\mathrm{.}50$ per pound.