The manufacturing operations of Jones Company had the following inventory balances for the month of March:

Inventories

March 1

March 31

Raw materials

$12,000

$14,000

Work in process

$8,000

$9,000

Finished goods

$32,000

$25,000

If the company purchased $20,000 of raw materials during March, what was the cost of raw materials used in production?

A) $24,000

B) $22,000

C) $32,000

D) $18,000