Fields Cutlery, a manufacturer of gourmet knife sets, produced 20,000 sets and sold 23,000 units during the current year. Beginning inventory under absorption costing consisted of 3,000 units valued at $66,000 (Direct materials $12 per unit; Direct labor, $3 per unit; Variable Overhead, $2 per unit, and Fixed overhead, $5 per unit.) All manufacturing costs have remained constant over the 2-year period. At year-end, the company reported the following income statement using absorption costing: Sales (23,000 × $45) $ 1,035,000 Cost of goods sold (23,000 × $22) 506,000 Gross margin $ 529,000 Selling and administrative expenses 115,000 Net income $ 414,000 60% of total selling and administrative expenses are variable. Compute net income under variable costing.

Under the variable costing method the most important point to understand here is that fixed cost of the previous period ( 3000 units in this case ) would not be carried over to current period. Which means that the fixed cost and cost of goods sold be less now and the profit will increase.

NET INCOME =

SALES = $ 1035,000 ( 23,000 X 45 )

(-) COST OF GOODS SOLD = ($ 391,000) ( 23000 X 17 )

( We have multiplied 23,000 units by 17 because now those fixed cost of $5 are not carried forward to this period)

GROSS CONTRIBUTION MARGIN = $1035,000 - $391,000

= $644,000

(-)VARIABLE SELLING AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES = ($69,000)

( $115,000 X 60% )

CONTRIBUTION MARGIN = $644,000 - $69,000

= $575,000

(LESS) FIXED COSTS = ($146,000) [ $100,000 + $46,000 ]

1) MANUFACTURING COST = 20,000 X $5

= $100,000

2) SELLING AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES = $115,000 X 40%

= $46,000

INCOME = $575,000 - $146,000

= $429,000