Variable and Absorption Costing Unit Product Costs and Income Statements; Explanation of Difference in Net Operating Income High Country, Inc., produces and sells many recreational products. The company has just opened a new plant to produce a folding camp cot that will be marketed throughout the United States. The following cost and revenue data relate to May, the first month of the plant’s operation:

Management is anxious to see how profitable the new camp cot will be and has asked that an income statement be prepared for May.

Required:

1.         Assume that the company uses absorption costing.

 a.    Determine the unit product cost.

 b.    Prepare an income statement for May.

2.          Assume that the company uses variable costing.

 a.     Determine the unit product cost.

 b.     Prepare a contribution format income statement for May.

3.         Explain the reason for any difference in the ending inventory balances under the two costing methods and the impact of this difference on reported net operating income.

Beginning inventory Units produced 10,000 Units sold 8,000 $75 Selling price per unit Selling and administrative expenses: Variable per unit $6 Fixed (total) $200,000 Manufacturing costs: Direct materials cost per unit $20 Direct labor cost per unit 8$ $2 Variable manufacturing overhead cost per unit $100,000 Fixed manufacturing overhead cost (total)