3 A PRODUCT COST IS ANY COST INVOLVED IN INVENTORY ACCOUNTS

2-3 A product cost is any cost involved in

inventory accounts: Raw Materials, Work in

purchasing or manufacturing goods. In the case

Process, and Finished Goods. A merchandising

of manufactured goods, these costs consist of

company generally identifies its inventory ac-

direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing

count simply as Merchandise Inventory.

overhead. A period cost is a cost that is taken

directly to the income statement as an expense

in the period in which it is incurred.