The Advantages and Disadvantages of FIFO Method Advantages: The following are the main advantages of FIFO Method:

The main advantage of FIFO method is that it is simple to understand andeasy to operate. It is a logical method because it takes into consideration the normalp r o c e d u r e o f u t i l i z i n g f i r s t t h o s e m a t e r i a l s w h i c h a r e r e c e i v e d f i r s t . Materials are issued in order of p u r c h a s e s , s o ma t e r i a l s r e c e i v e d f i r s t a r e utilized first. Under this method, materials are issued at thepurchaseprice; so the cost of jo b s o r wo r k o r d e r s i s c o r r e c t l y a s c e r t a i n e d s o f a r a s c o s t o f ma t e r i a l s i s concerned. Thus, the method recovers the cost price of the materials. This method is useful when prices are falling. Closing stock of materials will be valued at the market price as the closingstock under this method would consist of recent purchase of materials. This method is also useful when transactions are not too many and prices of materials are fairly steady. Disadvantages: The following are the main Disadvantages of FIFO Method: This method increases thepossibilityor clerical errors, if consignments arereceived frequently at fluctuating prices as very time an issue of materials ismade; the store ledger clerk will have to go through his record to ascertainthe price to be charged. In case of fluctuations in prices of materials, comparison between one jobandthe other job becomes difficult because one jobstarteda few minutes laterthan another of the same nature may be issued materials at different prices,me r e l y b e c a u s e t h e e a r l i e r jo b e x h a u s t e d t h e s u p p l y o f t h e l o we r p r i c e d materials in stock.

Forpricingrise, the issue price does not reflect the market price as materialsa r e issued from the earliest consignments. Theref ore, the c h a r g e t o productionislowbecause the cost of replacing the material consumed will be higher than the price of issue.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of LIFO Method Advantages: The following are the Advantages of LIFO Method: Like FIFO method, this is simple to operate and is useful when transactionsare not too many and the prices are fairly steady. Like FIFO, this method recovers cost from production because actual cost of material is charged to production. Production is charged at the recent prices because materials are issued fromthe latest consignment. Thus, effect of current market prices of materials isreflected in the cost of sales provided the materials are recently purchased. In time of rising prices, LIFO method of pricing issues is suitable becausematerials are issued at the current market prices which are high. This methodt h u s h e l p s i n s h o w i n g a l o w e r p r o f i t b e c a u s e o f i n c r e a s e d c h a r g e t o production during periods of rising prices and lower reduces burden of incometax. Disadvantages: The following are the Disadvantages of LIFO Method: Like FIFO, this method may lead to clerical errors as every time an issue ismade, the store ledger clerk will have to go through the record to ascertainthe price to be charged. Like FIFO, comparison between one joband the other job will become difficultbecause one job started a few minutes after another of the same type maybear a different charge for materials consumed, merely because the earlier job exhausted the supply of the lower priced or higher priced materials instock. For pricing a single requisition, more than one price has often to be adopted. The stock in hand is valued at price which does not reflect current marketprice. Consequently, closing stock will be underst ated or overstated in theBalance Sheet. The Meaning and Definition of FIFO Method. (Cost Accounting)

Under FIFO method material is first issued from the earliest consignment on hand andp r i c e d a t t h e c o s t a t wh i c h t h a t c o n s i g n me n t wa s p l a c e d i n t h e s t o r e s . I n o t h e r words, materials received first are issued first. The units in the opening stock of materials are treated as if they are issued first, the units from the purchase issuednext, and so on until the units left in the closing stock of materials are valued at thecost of production according to their chronological order of receipts in the store.FIFO method is most suitable in times of falling prices because the issue price of materials to jobo r w o r k s o r d e r s wi l l b e h i g h ( ma t e r i a l s i s s u e d f r o m t h e e a r l i e s t consignments which were purchased at a higher rate) while the cost of replacemento f ma t e r i a l s wi l l b e l o w. B u t i n c a s e o f r is i n g p r i c e s t h i s me t h o d i s n o t s u i t a b l e b e c a u s e t h e i s s u e p r i c e o f ma t e r i a l s t o p r o d u c t i o n wi l l b e l o w wh i l e t h e c o s t o f replacement of materials will be high. A d v a n t a g e s o f L a s t i n F i r s t O u t ( L I F O ) Method: The advantages of the last in first out method are:Materials consumed are priced in a systematic and realistic manner. It is argued thatcurrent acquisition costs are incurred for the purpose of meeting current productionand sales requirements; therefore, the most recent costs should be charged againstcurrent production and sales.Unrealized inventory gains and losses are minimized, and reported operating profitsare stabilized in industries subject to sharp materials price fluctuations.Inflationary prices of recent purchases are charged to operations in periods of risingprices, thus reducing profits, resulting in a tax saving, and therewith providing acash advantage through deferral o f income tax payments. The tax deferral createsadditional working capital as long as the economy continues to experience an annualinflation rate increase. D i s a d v a n t a g e s o f t h e L I F O C o s t i n g Method: The disadvantages or limitations of the last in first out costing method are:1 . T h e election of last in first out for income tax purposes is b i n d i n g f o r a l l subsequent years unless a change is authorized or required by the InternalRevenue Service (IRS)2.This is a "cost only" method with no right down to the lower of cost or marketallowed for income tax purposes. Furthermore, the IRS requires that when l a s t i n f i r s t o u t i s a d a p t e d a n a d ju s t me n t mu s t b e ma d e t o r e s t o r e a n y previous right downs from actual cost. Should the market decline below LIFOcost in subsequent years, the business would be at a tax disadvantage. When