Since the cost of goods sold is $240 ($1,960 – $1,720) less under FIFO that
is the amount of the phantom profit. It is referred to as “phantom profit”
because FIFO matches current selling prices with old inventory costs. To
replace the units sold the company will have to pay the current price of
$8 per unit, rather than the $6 per unit which some of the units were priced
at under FIFO. Therefore, profit under LIFO is more representative of what
the company can expect to earn in future periods.