Perpetual Inventory - Definition
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at December 15th, 2020
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What is Perpetual Inventory?
Perpetual inventory refers to a technique of accounting that records inventory purchases or sales immediately via the use of enterprise asset management software and computerized point-of-sale (POS) systems. The perpetual inventory provides an intricate view of changes in inventory with instant reporting of the inventory amount in stock.
A perpetual inventory doesnt require manual adjustment by the companys accountants, except to the point it differs from the physical inventory count as a result of breakage, theft, or loss. A POS system causes changes in inventory levels when inventory is reduced, and the cost of sales, an expense account, is increased anytime a sale is made.
Using a constant inventory system simplifies the use of economic order quantity (EOQ) by a company to buy inventory. EOQ is a formula used by managers to determine when to buy inventory. It considers the cost of ordering and holding inventory.
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