The Table That Follows Denotes Selected Characteristics of Absorption Costing

The table that follows denotes selected characteristics of absorption costing and/or variable costing.
$\begin{array} { | l | l | l | } \hline { \text { Characteristic } } & \text { Absorption Costing } & \text { Variable Costing } \\\hline \text { Product cost: } & & \\\hline \text { Direct materials } & & \\\hline \text { Direct labour } & & \\\hline \text { Variable manufacturing overhead } & & \\\hline \text { Fixed manufacturing overhead } & & \\\hline \text { Period cost: } & & \\\hline \text { Variable selling and administrative cost } & & \\\hline \text { Fixed selling and administrative cost } & & \\\hline \text { Fixed manufacturing overhead } & & \\\hline \text { Income statement disclosure/ andience: } & & \\\hline \text { Gross margin } & & \\\hline \text { Contribution margin } & & \\\hline \text { Lower net income when inventories rise } & & \\\hline \text { External financial-statement users } & & \\\hline\end{array}$ Required:
Evaluate each product-cost, period-cost, and income-statement/disclosure characteristic and determine whether it relates to absorption costing, variable costing, or both methods. Place an "X" in the proper column.