The cost ofthe inventory is determined by reducing the sales value of the inventory by the appropriate percentage gross
margin. The percentage used takes into consideration inventory that has been marked down to below its
original selling price. An average percentage for each retail department is often used.
Cost formulas
23 The cost of inventories of items that are not ordinarily interchangeable and goods or services produced
and segregated for specific projects shall be assigned by using specific identification of their individual
costs.
24 Specific identification of cost means that specific costs are attributed to identified items of inventory. This is
the appropriate treatment for items that are segregated for a specific project, regardless of whether they have
been bought or produced. However, specific identification of costs is inappropriate when there are large
numbers of items of inventory that are ordinarily interchangeable. In such circumstances, the method of
selecting those items that remain in inventories could be used to obtain predetermined effects on profit or loss.
25 The cost of inventories, other than those dealt with in paragraph 23, shall be assigned by using the
first-in, first-out (FIFO) or weighted average cost formula. An entity shall use the same cost formula
for all inventories having a similar nature and use to the entity. For inventories with a different nature
or use, different cost formulas may be justified.
26 For example, inventories used in one operating segment may have a use to the entity different from the same
type of inventories used in another operating segment. However, a difference in geographical location of
inventories (or in the respective tax rules), by itself, is not sufficient to justify the use of different cost
formulas.
27 The FIFO formula assumes that the items of inventory that were purchased or produced first are sold first,
and consequently the items remaining in inventory at the end of the period are those most recently purchased
or produced. Under the weighted average cost formula, the cost of each item is determined from the weighted
average of the cost of similar items at the beginning of a period and the cost of similar items purchased or
produced during the period. The average may be calculated on a periodic basis, or as each additional
shipment is received, depending upon the circumstances of the entity.
Net realisable value
28 The cost of inventories may not be recoverable if those inventories are damaged, if they have become wholly
or partially obsolete, or if their selling prices have declined. The cost of inventories may also not be
recoverable if the estimated costs of completion or the estimated costs to be incurred to make the sale have
increased. The practice of writing inventories down below cost to net realisable value is consistent with the
view that assets should not be carried in excess of amounts expected to be realised from their sale or use.
29 Inventories are usually written down to net realisable value item by item. In some circumstances, however, it
may be appropriate to group similar or related items. This may be the case with items of inventory relating to
the same product line that have similar purposes or end uses, are produced and marketed in the same
geographical area, and cannot be practicably evaluated separately from other items in that product line. It is
not appropriate to write inventories down on the basis of a classification of inventory, for example, finished
goods, or all the inventories in a particular operating segment. Service providers generally accumulate costs
in respect of each service for which a separate selling price is charged. Therefore, each such service is treated
as a separate item.
30 Estimates of net realisable value are based on the most reliable evidence available at the time the estimates
are made, of the amount the inventories are expected to realise. These estimates take into consideration
fluctuations of price or cost directly relating to events occurring after the end of the period to the extent that
such events confirm conditions existing at the end of the period.