# Methods of Valuing Material Issues
When materials are issued from stores to production, we must decide what price to charge for each issue. Because the same material is often bought at different prices over time, the choice of method affects both the cost of production and the value of closing stock.
## A. First-In First-Out (FIFO)
Materials are issued in the order in which they were purchased — the oldest stock (longest in store) is issued first.
- Each issue recovers the purchase price of the earliest lot, which may not reflect the current market price.
- In a period of rising prices, FIFO gives a lower charge to production and a higher closing stock value.
Illustrative store ledger:
| Date | Receipts (Q × P = A) | Issues (Q × P = A) | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 × 2 = 200 | 100 × 2 = 200 | |
| 2 | 500 × 3 = 1500 | 100 × 2 = 200; 500 × 3 = 1500 | |
| 3 | 100 × 2 = 200; 50 × 3 = 150 | 450 × 3 = 1350 |
Note how the issue of 150 units first exhausts the oldest lot (100 @ ₹2) before drawing from the next lot (50 @ ₹3).
## B. Last-In First-Out (LIFO)
Issues are priced on the assumption that the most recently purchased lot is issued first. The latest prices are used until that lot is exhausted, then the next-latest, and so on.
- If the issue quantity exceeds the latest lot, the earlier lot and its price are also used.
- In rising prices, LIFO charges production at the most current cost, leaving older (lower) costs in closing stock.
Illustrative store ledger:
| Date | Receipts (Q × P = A) | Issues (Q × P = A) | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 × 2 = 200 | 100 × 2 = 200 | |
| 2 | 500 × 3 = 1500 | 100 × 2 = 200; 500 × 3 = 1500 | |
| 3 | 150 × 3 = 450 | 100 × 2 = 200; 350 × 3 = 1350 |
The issue of 150 is drawn entirely from the latest lot (@ ₹3), leaving the base lot (@ ₹2) untouched.
## C. Simple Average Price Method
Issues are valued at a simple average of the rates of the different lots:
$$\text{Simple Average Price} = \frac{\text{Total of rates of different lots}}{\text{Number of lots}}$$
- Quantity of each lot is ignored.
- The price of a lot that has been completely issued out is excluded from the average.
## D. Weighted Average Price Method
Unlike the simple average, this method gives due weightage to quantities. The issue price is recomputed after each receipt:
$$\text{Weighted Average Price} = \frac{\text{Sum of (Price} \times \text{Quantity) of all lots in stock}}{\text{Total quantity in stock}}$$
Illustrative store ledger:
| Date | Receipts (Q × P = A) | Issues (Q × P = A) | Balance (Q × P = A) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 × 2 = 200 | 100 × 2.00 = 200 | |
| 2 | 500 × 3 = 1500 | 600 × 2.83 = 1700 | |
| 3 | 150 × 2.83 = 425 | 450 × 2.83 = 1275 |
After the second receipt, the rate becomes 1700 ÷ 600 = ₹2.83, which is then used for the issue.
## E. Base Stock Method
- A minimum (base) quantity of stock is always held as a reserve to meet emergencies.
- This base stock is valued at the price of the first lot received and remains unaffected by later price fluctuations.
- Issues above the base stock are priced under another method (usually FIFO or LIFO).
## F. Replacement Price Method
- Replacement price = the price at which an identical item could currently be purchased.
- Issues are valued at the current replacement (market) cost at the time of each issue.
- This makes product cost reflect current market prices — the main objective of the method — but requires determining the replacement cost at every issue.