Q. What is Consistency?

Consistency in general requires that a company use the same accounting principles and reporting practices through time. This concept disallows indiscriminate switching of accounting principles or methods such as changing inventory methods every year. But consistency doesn't prohibit a change in accounting principles if the information needs of financial statement users are better served by the change. When a company makes a alter in accounting principles it must make the following disclosures in the financial statements (a) nature of the change (b) reasons for the change (c) effect of the change on current net income, if significant and (d) cumulative effect of the change on past income.