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Microlesson · 5-min read

Valuation of Closing Finished Goods under FIFO, LIFO and Weighted Average

# Valuation of Closing Finished Goods

When opening and current-period finished goods have different costs per unit, the value of closing FG depends on the assumed flow of goods. The same data gives three different answers.

## Common Data

  • Cost of Production (current period): ₹10,00,000 for 10,000 units → ₹100/unit
  • Opening Stock: ₹10,00,000 for 8,000 units → ₹125/unit
  • Units Sold: 11,000 units
  • Total available = 8,000 + 10,000 = 18,000; Closing Stock = 18,000 − 11,000 = 7,000 units

## I. FIFO Method (Opening stock sold first)

If opening stock (8,000) is sold first, the remaining 3,000 sold come from current production. The 7,000 units of closing stock are fully out of current production (₹100/unit):

$$\text{Closing FG} = \frac{₹10,00,000}{10,000\text{ units}} \times 7,000 = ₹7,00,000$$

## II. LIFO Method (Current production sold first)

If current production (10,000) is sold first, the remaining 1,000 sold come from opening stock. The 7,000 units of closing stock are fully out of opening stock (₹125/unit):

$$\text{Closing FG} = \frac{₹10,00,000}{8,000\text{ units}} \times 7,000 = ₹8,75,000$$

## III. Weighted Average Method (Combined mix sold)

Pool all units and value at a single average rate:

Rate/unitUnitsTotal
COP₹10010,000₹10,00,000
Opening Stock₹1258,000₹10,00,000
Total18,000₹20,00,000

$$\text{Weighted Avg Rate} = \frac{₹20,00,000}{18,000} = ₹111.11/\text{unit}$$

$$\text{Closing FG} = ₹111.11 \times 7,000 = ₹7,77,778$$

## Summary of Results

MethodClosing FG Value
FIFO₹7,00,000
LIFO₹8,75,000
Weighted Average₹7,77,778

> Insight: Here opening stock (₹125) is dearer than current production (₹100). FIFO leaves the cheaper recent units in closing stock (lowest value); LIFO leaves the dearer old units in closing stock (highest value); Weighted Average sits in between.

Worked example

### Example 1

FIFO: Closing FG (7,000 units) valued fully at current production rate ₹100 → (₹10,00,000 ÷ 10,000) × 7,000 = ₹7,00,000.

### Example 2

LIFO: Closing FG (7,000 units) valued fully at opening stock rate ₹125 → (₹10,00,000 ÷ 8,000) × 7,000 = ₹8,75,000.

### Example 3

Weighted Average: Avg rate = ₹20,00,000 ÷ 18,000 units = ₹111.11 → 7,000 × ₹111.11 = ₹7,77,778.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Mixing up FIFO and LIFO logic: under FIFO closing stock is valued at the LATEST (current) costs; under LIFO closing stock is valued at the OLDEST (opening) costs.
  • Computing the weighted average rate on units sold instead of on total units available (opening + current production).
  • Forgetting to first compute closing units (opening + production − sold) before applying the rate.
  • Using the closing-stock rate that matches the units actually available — e.g. trying to value 7,000 closing units at the opening rate under FIFO when opening stock (8,000) was already sold.
Reference:
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