The first step is to obtain a record of all goods received. This can be done most easily by obtaining duplicate invoices, which will be supplied by those from whom goods are purchased, if insisted upon. To the invoice must be added the freight and cartage--items which must be supplied by the accounting department. This gives the total cost, laid down, and should be divided to show costs per unit--as yards, dozen, pounds, barrels, or tons. On a mixed shipment it is not difficult to apportion the freight to the different commodities. Every freight bill shows the rate at which the shipment is billed, and the total can be apportioned by weight on the same basis. To insure a permanent record of cost prices, it is best to register each shipment received, with its cost. This register should be divided according to commodities, providing a separate record of each one. A loose-leaf book is best for the purpose. A suitable form is shown in Fig. 1. This sheet is headed with the name of the article or commodity, and each sheet is used for a record of receipts of a single article. The record includes date of invoice, date received, from whom, lot number, quantity, price, amount of invoice, freight and cartage, total cost, and cost per unit. Each lot of goods received is given a lot number, these numbers being consecutive for each commodity. The sheet serves the double purpose of a record of receipts and a price list. Both the quantity and total columns are footed, the footings being carried forward to the end of the month. All sheets are filed alphabetically by commodities, subdivided by departments, the current sheets always being on top. =Records of Shipments.= Before sales costs and profits can be figured, the statistical department must be supplied with records of shipments. This may be accomplished by providing an extra copy of the invoice, which is easily done with modern billing systems. To save transcribing, the copy for the statistical department should be wider than the original invoice. The extra width allows for the addition of special columns needed in figuring profits on the shipment, as shown in Fig. 2. This form has added columns for total cost, gross profits, sales expense, net profits, and per cent of net profits. When these invoice copies are received in the statistical department, the price lists, Fig. 1, are referred to for cost prices. Here the use of the lot number assumes importance, as prices are obtained for the specific lot numbers shown on the invoice, resulting in actual rather than estimated profit figures. After serving their purposes in the tabulation of other data, explained later, the invoice copies are filed alphabetically, keeping all invoices to the same customer together. Either a vertical file or a post binder may be used for this purpose. [Illustration: Fig. 1. Register of Merchandise Received]