What is inventory valuation?

First of all lets understand what is inventory :- It is an asset owned by a business for the purpose of selling. ex; Raw material, Work in progress, Fined goods etc

Inventory valuation is a process companies use to calculate the value of their unsold stock when preparing financial statements. Inventory is considered an asset, so its value must be recorded in the balance sheet. This value is also essential for calculating the inventory turnover ratio, which helps businesses make informed purchasing decisions.

Why is inventory valuation important?

Inventory valuation is important for several reasons:

1. Determining Asset Value: It helps assign a financial value to unsold inventory, which is crucial for accurate accounting.
2. Preparing Financial Statements: It ensures the inventory value is properly recorded in the balance sheet.
3. Handling Price Fluctuations: Since item prices may vary during the year, inventory valuation helps establish a consistent method to calculate the value.
4. Planning Purchases: The value of inventory is key to calculating the inventory turnover ratio, which helps businesses decide when and how much to purchase.
5. Making Business Decisions: Accurate inventory valuation provides insights into the cost and availability of products, enabling better decision-making.

For example, if you have 50 unsold items at the end of the year, but their prices changed throughout the year, you’ll need a technique to calculate their value reliably.

What are the different inventory valuation methods?

There are three main methods of inventory valuation:

1. FIFO (First In, First Out):
   • Assumes the first items purchased are the first to be sold.
   • When a sale is made, the cost is calculated using the price of the oldest inventory.
2. LIFO (Last In, First Out):
   • Assumes the last items purchased are the first to be sold.
   • When a sale is made, the cost is calculated using the price of the newest inventory.
3. WAC (Weighted Average Cost):
   • Calculates the average cost of items by dividing the total cost of inventory by the total units purchased.
   • The same average cost is used for all inventory sold during the year.

Each method has its use, depending on the business needs and how the prices of items fluctuate over time.

EXAMPLE QUESTION FOR LIFO AND FIFO