What is FIFO in reports?

Understanding FIFO (First-In-First-Out)

In inventory management, the FIFO (First-In-First-Out) method determines how goods are sold and accounted for. This approach assumes that the oldest inventory items purchased are sold first.

Example Scenario

Let’s consider a practical example to illustrate how FIFO works.

Purchases

  • March 15, 2025: Purchased 100 water bottles at ₹20 each.
  • April 5, 2025: Purchased 100 water bottles at ₹25 each.

Sales

On May 10, 2025, 150 water bottles were sold at ₹40 each.

FIFO Calculation

Under the FIFO method, we consider the first stock purchased will be sold first.

  1. First 100 Bottles:
  • Sold from the March 15th batch.
  • Cost: 100 bottles×₹20=₹2,000100 bottles×₹20=₹2,000
  1. Next 50 Bottles:
  • Sold from the April 5th batch.
  • Cost: 50 bottles×₹25=₹1,25050 bottles×₹25=₹1,250

Total Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

The total COGS can be calculated as follows:

Total COGS=₹2,000 (from March 15th)+₹1,250 (from April 5th)=₹3,250

Total Sales Revenue

The total revenue from the sale of 150 water bottles is:

Total Sales=150 bottles×₹40=₹6,000

Gross Profit Calculation

To determine the gross profit, we subtract the total COGS from the total sales revenue:

Gross Profit=Revenue−Cost of Goods Sold=₹6,000−₹3,250=₹2,750