In: Accounting
explain the difference between absorption costing and variable costing methods. How does each treat fixed manufacturing overhead? Provide an example and calculate the unit product cost using each method.
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 Variable Costing:  | 
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 Product Cost under Variable costing includes direct material cost, direct labor cost, and variable manufacturing overhead only.  | 
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 Fixed manufacturing overhead do not form part of the Product cost.  | 
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 Absorption Costing:  | 
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 Product Cost under Absorption costing includes direct material cost, direct labor cost, variable manufacturing overhead AND fixed manufacturing overheads.  | 
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 >Selling, General and administrative expenses (BOTH Variable and Fixed) DO NOT FORM part of product cost.  | 
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 Product Cost  | 
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 Absorption Costing  | 
 Variable Costing  | 
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 Direct material  | 
 Direct material  | 
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 Direct Labor  | 
 Direct Labor  | 
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 Variable manufacturing overhead  | 
 Variable manufacturing overhead  | 
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 Fixed manufacturing overhead applied  | 
 -  | 
Units produced = 1000 units
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 Product Cost  | 
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 Absorption Costing  | 
 Variable Costing  | 
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 Direct Material  | 
 $53.00  | 
 $53.00  | 
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 Direct Labor  | 
 $46.00  | 
 $50.00  | 
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 Variable manufacturing overhead  | 
 $4.00  | 
 $11.00  | 
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 Fixed manufacturing overhead  | 
 $24.00 [$24,000 / 1000 units]  | 
 $0.00  | 
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 Total product cost  | 
 $127.00  | 
 $114.00  | 
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