Outback Corporation manufactures rechargeable flashlights in Brisbane, Australia. The firm uses an absorption costing system for internal reporting purposes; however, the company is considering using variable costing. Data regarding Outback’s planned and actual operations for 20×1 follow:

Budgeted Costs

Per Unit Total Actual Costs
Direct material $ 12.20 $ 1,683,600 $ 1,537,200
Direct labor 9.40 1,297,200 1,184,400
Variable manufacturing overhead 4.70 648,600 592,200
Fixed manufacturing overhead 4.90 676,200 688,200
Variable selling expenses 7.70 1,062,600 931,700
Fixed selling expenses 7.30 1,007,400 1,007,400
Variable administrative expenses 2.40 331,200 290,400
Fixed administrative expenses 3.10 427,800 433,800









Total $ 51.70 $ 7,134,600 $ 6,665,300



















Planned Activity Actual Activity
Beginning finished goods inventory in units 41,000 41,000
Sales in units 138,000 121,000
Production in units 138,000 126,000

The budgeted per unit cost figures were based on Outback producing and selling 138,000 units in 20×1. Outback uses a predetermined overhead rate for applying manufacturing overhead to its product. A total manufacturing overhead rate of $9.60 per unit was employed for absorption costing purposes in 20×1. Any overapplied or underapplied manufacturing overhead is closed to the Cost of Goods Sold account at the end of the year. The 20×1 beginning finished goods inventory for absorption costing purposes was valued at the 20×0 budgeted unit manufacturing cost, which was the same as the 20×1 budgeted unit manufacturing cost. There are no work in process inventories at either the beginning or the end of the year. The planned and actual unit selling price for 20×1 was $70.40 per unit.

Required:
Was Outback’s 20×1 income higher under absorption costing or variable costing?
It was higher under variable costing.
It was higher under absorption costing.
1.

Compute the value of Outback Corporation’s 20×1 ending finished goods inventory under absorption costing. (Do not round your intermediate calculations. Omit the “$” sign in your response.)

Finished goods inventory $
2.

Compute the value of Outback Corporation’s 20×1 ending finished goods inventory under variable costing. (Do not round your intermediate calculations. Omit the “$” sign in your response.)

Finished goods inventory $

3.

Compute the difference between Outback Corporation’s 20×1 reported income calculated under absorption costing and calculated under variable costing. (Do not round your intermediate calculations. Omit the “$” sign in your response.)

Difference in reported income $