QUESTIONS 45 THROUGH 68 RELATE TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS

61. Assume U.S. GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) applies unless

otherwise noted.

An analyst gathers the following information about a company ($ millions):

2008 2007

Sales 283.5 234.9

Year-end inventory (LIFO inventory method) 81.4 53.7

LIFO reserve 36.4 21.8

Cost of goods sold (LIFO) 203.9 167.3

If the company uses the FIFO inventory method instead of LIFO, the company’s

2008 gross profit margin is closest to:

A. 22.9%.

B. 29.8%.

C. 33.2%.