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The First-in, First-out Method (FIFO) | FIFO Inventory Method

Overview of the First-in, First-out Method

The first in, first out (FIFO) method of inventory valuation operates under the assumption that the first goods purchased are also the first goods sold. In most companies, this accounting assumption closely matches the actual flow of goods, and so is considered the most theoretically correct inventory valuation method.

Under the FIFO method, the earliest goods purchased are the first ones removed from the inventory account. This results in the remaining items in inventory being accounted for at the most recently incurred costs, so that the inventory asset recorded on the balance sheet contains costs quite close to the most recent costs that could be obtained in the marketplace. Conversely, this method also results in older historical costs being matched against current revenues and recorded in the cost of goods sold, so the gross margin does not necessarily reflect a proper matching of revenues and costs.

The FIFO method is allowed under both Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards. The FIFO method provides the same results under either the periodic or perpetual inventory system.

Example of the First-in, First-out Method

Milagro Corporation decides to use the FIFO method for the month of January. During that month, it records the following transactions:

	Quantity Change	Actual Unit Cost	Actual Total Cost
	+100	$210	$21,000
Sale	-75
Purchase (layer 2)	+150	280	42,000
Sale	-100
Purchase (layer 3)	+50	300	15,000
Ending inventory	= 125

The cost of goods sold in units is calculated as:

100 Beginning inventory + 200 Purchased – 125 Ending inventory = 175 Units

Milagro’s controller uses the information in the preceding table to calculate the cost of goods sold for January, as well as the cost of the inventory balance as of the end of January.

	Units	Unit Cost	Total Cost
Cost of goods sold
FIFO layer 1	100	$210	$21,000
FIFO layer 2	75	280	21,000
	175		$42,000
Ending inventory
FIFO layer 2	75	280	$21,000
FIFO layer 3	50	300	15,000
	125		$36,000

Thus, the first FIFO layer, which was the beginning inventory layer, is completely used up during the month, as well as half of Layer 2, leaving half of Layer 2 and all of Layer 3 to be the sole components of the ending inventory.

Note that the $42,000 cost of goods sold and $36,000 ending inventory equals the $78,000 combined total of beginning inventory and purchases during the month.