What is the concept of inventory valuation in accounting?

@elizabeth 

Inventory valuation in accounting refers to the process of assigning a monetary value to a company's inventory for financial reporting purposes. It is the determination of the cost or worth of goods held by a company in order to calculate the cost of goods sold (COGS) and the value of ending inventory.

There are several methods of inventory valuation, including:

1. First-In, First-Out (FIFO): Assumes that the oldest inventory items are sold first, and the cost of those items is used to calculate COGS, while the cost of the most recent inventory items is used for valuing the ending inventory.
2. Last-In, First-Out (LIFO): Assumes that the most recent inventory items are sold first, and the cost of those items is used to calculate COGS, while the cost of the oldest inventory items is used for valuing the ending inventory. LIFO is not allowed under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) but is permitted under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States.
3. Weighted Average Cost: Calculates the average cost of all inventory items based on their respective quantities and costs, and this average cost is used for both COGS and valuing the ending inventory.
4. Specific Identification: Matches the actual cost of each individual item in inventory to the corresponding sales revenue. This method is mainly used for high-value items with distinct and identifiable characteristics.

The choice of inventory valuation method can significantly impact a company's financial statements, particularly its reported profitability and the value of its current assets. It is crucial for companies to consistently apply a specific valuation method to ensure comparability and accuracy in financial reporting.