Plains Irrigation uses absorption costing for its external reports and variable costing for its internal reports. Data concerning inventories appear here:

REQUIRD
A. Why is the value of inventory for Plains Irrigation higher when absorption costing is used than when variable costing is used? Is this result always the case? Why or why not?
B. What is the relationship between absorption costing and variable costing operating income in October? (State which valuation basis will yield the higher operating income and by how much the two operating incomes willdiffer.)

Valuation Basis Absorption cost Variable cost September $1,346 $854 October $2,598 $1,647 November $2,136 $1,329