Question

During the third quarter of its 20X7 fiscal year, Press Company is considering the different methods of reporting accounting changes on its interim segments. Preliminary data are available for the third quarter of 20X7, ending on September 30, 20X7, prior to any adjustments required for any accounting changes. The company’s tax rate is 40 percent of income. Selected interim data for the company, in thousands of dollars, follow:

Quarter Ended	Net Sales				Gross Profit				Earnings from Operations, Before Tax				Net Earnings
20X7:
March 31		$	392			$	120			$	26			$	15.6
June 30			418				122				33				19.8
September 30 (preliminary)			432				138				35				21.0
20X6:
March 31			398				126				26				15.6
June 30			428				138				35				21.0
September 30			407				135				34				20.4
December 31			389				121				34				20.4

Required:
For the following independent cases, present the company’s interim financial data for the three quarters of 20X7 and the comparative data for 20X6, assuming that in a meeting on the last day of the third quarter of 20X7, the company decides to make the specified accounting change.
  
a. The company decides to change from the FIFO method of accounting for inventory to the LIFO method. The accounting department has prepared the following schedule of data, in thousands of dollars, showing the cost of goods sold each quarter under the LIFO method. The preceding selected interim data are based on the FIFO method. The accounting department has determined that there will be no difference in cost of goods sold prior to January 1, 20X6. (Enter your answers in thousands of dollars. Round your Net Earnings to 1 decimal place.)

Quarter Ended	LIFO
20X7:
March 31	$	282
June 30		308
September 30		308
20X6:
March 31		284
June 30		303
September 30		297
December 31		277

Answer 1