PDF Price Level Changes and Financial Accounting Measurement: Empirical Evidences from Nigeria

The financial statements are prepared on the basis of historical costs on the assumption that the rupee has static value. When you look at your financial statements, which value truly represents your tractor’s worth? This scenario perfectly illustrates why accounting for price level changes has become crucial in modern financial reporting. This paper reviews fair value accounting accounting for price level changes method relative to historical cost accounting. Although both methods are widely used by entities in computing their income and financial positions, there is controversy over superiority. Historical cost accounting reports assets and liabilities at the initial price they were exchanged for at the time of the transaction.

Briefly, if R refers to the amount required to purchase a specific quantity of goods, in that case, one dollar would buy 1/R. Depreciation charged on the assets on current values is not acceptable by the Income Tax Act, 1961. As a result, adjusting depreciation to price changes will not serve any practical purpose. As result, they showcase the following disadvantages of price level accounting. The price level accounting establishes a realistic price for the shares which also affects the investment market of the company. The social image of the company that prepares the financial statements adjusted to the price level changes gets improved.

The company reports very high profits during high inflation but on the other way faced financial difficulties. This happens because the taxes and dividends have been paid from the capital as a result of overstated profits arisen out of adopting the historical cost concept. Therefore, to alter this historical cost concept, price level accounting is recommended. Contrary to monetary items, non-monetary items denote such assets and liabilities that do not represent specific monetary claims and include land, buildings, machinery, investments, stocks, etc.

The main limitation of CPP method is that it is based on General Price Index and does not take in to account the individual price index related with specific assets. Replacement Cost Accounting (RCA) method is not based on General Price Index and takes in to account the individual price index which is directly related with particular assets. It has also received great attention as it play important role in solving problems related with financial reporting that arise due to rapidly growing prices. This adjustment reflects the amount of additional finance needed to maintain the same working capital due to the changes in price levels.

Price level changes, primarily driven by inflation or deflation, significantly impact the accuracy and relevance of financial statements. When prices rise consistently over time, the purchasing power of money decreases, making historical cost figures less meaningful. The Sandilands Committee published its report in September 1975 recommending the adoption of current cost accounting for dealing with the problem of inflation accounting. In this method, historic values of items are not taken into account; rather current values of individual items are taken as the basis for preparing profit and loss account and balance sheet.

This statement should include the monetary gain or loss and a reconciliation of changes in the stock equity. Under first-in-first out method (FIFO) cost of sales comprise the entire opening stock and current purchases less closing stock. But under the last-in-fist-out method (LIFO) cost of sales comprise mainly of the current purchases and it is only when the cost of sales exceeds current purchases, opening stock enters into cost of sales. The closing stock enters current purchases opening stock enters into cost of sales. (iii) In a country like India, even the price indices may not be correct and it may further cause inaccurate presentation of the financial statements.

• This perspective ensures that the discussion remains active during economic volatility.
• Three main adjustments to trading account, calculated on the historical cost basis before interest, are required to arrive at current cost operating profit.
• This method takes into consideration the changes in the value of items as a result of the general price level, but it does not account for changes in the value of individual items.
• Without adjusting the price changes, higher profits create resentment and urge for higher wages among the workers.
• Alternatively, the equity capital may not be restated in CPP terms and the balance be taken as equity.

Impact on financial statement analysis

Scholars have suggested that RGDP is important in understanding and explaining the change in share prices. The data for the study was sourced from NGX fact book and the Central bank Bulletin. The methods used for testing the information content of various accounting information were Ordinary Least Squared (OLS), Random Effects Model (REM), Fixed Effects Model (FEM). The objective of the study is to examine the nexus between accounting information and stock price of quoted consumer goods manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study adopts an ex post facto research design; and, the sample drawn from quoted consumer goods manufacturing firms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The study employs a combination of descriptive and inferential statistical technique to analyse the data.

Current cost is the cost at which the assets can be replaced as on a date. While the current purchasing power method is known as the general price level approach, the current cost accounting method is known as the specific price level approach or replacement cost accounting. The Current Purchasing Power (CPP) method, also known as general price level accounting, addresses inflation by converting historical costs into current purchasing power units.

• A possible explanation of the changes could be that investors do not view accounting information to be different in the two periods.
• The findings show that there is a significant relationship between accounting information and share prices of companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
• In 1986 the FASB issued its Statement No. 89 which no longer required the reporting of the information.
• This research is motivated to study the extent to which accounting information summarizes stock prices in Nigerian stock market as an indicator of value relevance.
• Accounting for price level changes aims to present financial statements that reflect current economic realities.
• Depreciation charged on current values of fixed assets is not acceptable under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

The necessity for accounting for price level changes emerged as economic conditions fluctuated significantly, especially noted in the debates of the late 20th century. Scholars like Inanga (1994) highlighted the relevance it holds in comprehending income fluctuations. From the above discussion, the FASB subsequently decided to eliminate the constant-dollar accounting disclosure requirements in favor of disc closure under only the current-cost accounting model. Price level tends to be a metric of the overall degree of prices at a specific point in time as assessed by the CPI. In economics, it can be explained as measuring the existing price of products and services getting produced in a particular nation, region, or area of an economy. The aggregate price level also gets understood as the weighted arithmetic average of existing prices of total goods plus services.

Cost of sales and inventory value vary according to cost flow assumptions, i.e., FIFO or LIFO. Under FIFO method cost of sales comprise the entire opening stock and current purchases less closing stock. Relevant information is such that it influences the economic decisions of users by helping them evaluate past, present and future events. In this commentary, I propose a new accounting model, in which accounting reports measure wealth and provide information that can diagnose financial health. I argue that my proposed model addresses the major weaknesses of the existing choice-based GAAP model, and the proposed model has the potential to support a much more effective and efficient standard-setting process. However, both models are useful for an understanding of the issues of accounting for price changes.

Book contents

The document discusses the challenges of historical cost accounting due to inflation and the lack of consensus on the disclosure of price level changes as per IAS 15. It introduces the current purchasing power approach, which restates financial items for general price level changes, distinguishing between monetary and non-monetary items. Additionally, it provides financial statements for Bell ding Company Ltd and outlines the need to reinstate these statements to reflect current purchasing power. The document discusses the need for inflation accounting and different approaches to accounting for price level changes. It notes that historical cost accounting fails under inflation as it does not reflect changing asset values or purchasing power over time.

Replacement Cost Accounting Technique

It helps the various stakeholders such as shareholders, investors, creditors and others to study and to take various important decisions relating to business. Changes in the price levels results in inaccurate presentation of financial statements. The accounting which is based on conventional method is known as historical cost method.

Regulatory and reporting considerations

Profit calculated using historical costs can be misleading during inflationary times. PLA adjusts revenues and expenses to current prices, ensuring that the profit reflects the true economic performance of the business. Agricultural businesses face unique challenges when dealing with price level changes. Commodity prices, land values, and equipment costs often fluctuate more dramatically than general price levels. Financial statements adjusted for price levels may be difficult for users to understand, especially those without a background in economics or accounting. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of financial data by investors, creditors, and other stakeholders.

During the period of rising prices, shareholders are benefitted to the extent fixed assets and net working capital are financed while the amount of borrowings to be repaid remains fixed except interest charges. In the same manner, there is a loss to the shareholders in the period of falling prices. To adjust such profit or loss on account of borrowings, ‘gearing adjustment’ is required to be made. This adjustment reduces the total adjustment for cost of sales, depreciation and monetary working capital in the proportion of finance by borrowings to the total financing.

Conversely, fair value accounting quotes the prevailing price in the market. Nevertheless, while both methods of accounting affect financial statements, the impact of fair value accounting on the balance sheet and income statement is extreme due to the potential volatility of the method. Fair value accounting is deemed superior when compared to historical cost accounting because it reflects the current situation in the market whereas the later is based on the past.

Three main adjustments to trading account, calculated on the historical cost basis before interest, are required to arrive at current cost operating profit. (i) Replacement cost is the estimated cost of acquiring new asset of the same productive capacity at current prices adjusted for estimated depreciation since acquisition. (b) Closing Balance Sheet prepared under historical cost accounting is also converted. The difference between the two sides of the balance sheet is put as reserves after converting the equity capital.

Alternatively, the equity capital may not be restated in CPP terms and the balance be taken as equity. Monetary items are those assets and liabilities the amount of which are fixed by contract or otherwise, and expressed in units of money, regardless of changes in general price level. For example, a particular machine may have become cheaper over the last few years, whereas the general price level may have risen; the value of the machine will also be raised in accordance with general price index. Thus general price level adjustment restates financial data by bringing past rupee amounts in line to current rupee purchasing power by general index multiplier. Accounting fundamentals has been described as one of the key factors considered by investors when taking investment decisions. Previous studies focused on the role of accounting information on share price and completely underestimated the influencing role of real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) on the relationship.