Introduction Of Accounting For Price Level Changes
Conventional or historical cost accounting assumes that money has stable value. But in reality, value of money varies from time to time as a result of changes in the general level of prices. Prices of goods and services change over the time. The change in price as a result of various economic and social forces brings about a change in the purchasing power of money.
Accounting is known as the language of business. The basic objective if accounting is to prepare financial statements in such a way that they give a true and fair view of business. Income statement should disclose the true profit or loss made by the business during a particular period where as balance sheet must show a true and fair view of the financial position of the business on a particular date. The recording of business transactions under the assumption that monetary unit is stable is called historical cost accounting (HCA). Under HCA, assets are recorded by the business at the price at which they are acquired and there will be no change in their values even if the market values of such assets change. Likewise, liabilities are recorded at the amounts contracted for and such amounts are not revised to compensate for changes in the price level. Costs are recorded on historical basis where are revenues are recorded on current value basis. Under HCA, it is assumed that money has stable value. But in reality, the value of money varies from time to time. The historical accounting system does not consider the impact of price level change on financial statements. Therefore, accounting for price level changes has been emerged as new accounting system.
Meaning Of Accounting For Price Level Changes
The general tendency in changes of prices of goods and services over a time is called price level. The rise in general price level is called inflation. During the period of inflation, purchasing power of money declines. The fall in the general price level is called deflation. During the period of deflation, purchasing power of money increases. Price level change means increase or decrease in the purchasing power of money over a period of time. The accounting which considers price level changes is called accounting for price level changes.
Accounting for price level changes is a system of maintaining accounts in which all items in financial statements are recorded at current values. This system of accounting ascertains profit or loss and presents financial position of the business on the basis of current prices. Accounting for price level changes is also called inflation accounting.
Conventional or historical cost accounting assumes that money has stable value. But in reality, value of money varies from time to time as a result of changes in the general level of prices. Prices of goods and services change over the time. The change in price as a result of various economic and social forces brings about a change in the purchasing power of money.
Accounting is known as the language of business. The basic objective if accounting is to prepare financial statements in such a way that they give a true and fair view of business. Income statement should disclose the true profit or loss made by the business during a particular period where as balance sheet must show a true and fair view of the financial position of the business on a particular date. The recording of business transactions under the assumption that monetary unit is stable is called historical cost accounting (HCA). Under HCA, assets are recorded by the business at the price at which they are acquired and there will be no change in their values even if the market values of such assets change. Likewise, liabilities are recorded at the amounts contracted for and such amounts are not revised to compensate for changes in the price level. Costs are recorded on historical basis where are revenues are recorded on current value basis. Under HCA, it is assumed that money has stable value. But in reality, the value of money varies from time to time. The historical accounting system does not consider the impact of price level change on financial statements. Therefore, accounting for price level changes has been emerged as new accounting system.
Meaning Of Accounting For Price Level Changes
The general tendency in changes of prices of goods and services over a time is called price level. The rise in general price level is called inflation. During the period of inflation, purchasing power of money declines. The fall in the general price level is called deflation. During the period of deflation, purchasing power of money increases. Price level change means increase or decrease in the purchasing power of money over a period of time. The accounting which considers price level changes is called accounting for price level changes.
Accounting for price level changes is a system of maintaining accounts in which all items in financial statements are recorded at current values. This system of accounting ascertains profit or loss and presents financial position of the business on the basis of current prices. Accounting for price level changes is also called inflation accounting.
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