In a period of rising costs, the LIFO cost flow assumption results in the
highest cost of goods sold and lowest gross profit. FIFO gives the lowest cost of goods sold and highest gross profit. The moving-average cost flow assumption results in amounts between the other two.
On the balance sheet, FIFO gives the highest ending inventory (repre-
senting the most current costs); LIFO gives the lowest ending inventory (representing the oldest costs); and moving-average cost results in an ending inventory falling between the other two.