beginning inventory


Beginning Inventory

Goods and materials available for sale at the beginning of an accounting period or fiscal year. Comparing the beginning inventory to the ending inventory may help a company determine whether it overestimated the materials it needs to operate, or customers' demand for its products. They may use these figures to estimate future sales and therefore future inventory. See also: Inventory turnover.

beginning inventory

Goods available for sale at the beginning of an accounting period. Compare ending inventory.