"Sony introduces a new compact music player to compete with Apple’s iPod that carries a two-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects. Based on industry experience with similar product introductions, warranty costs are expected to be approximately 2% of sales. By the end of the first year of selling the product, total sales are $30 million, and actual warranty expenditures are $200,000. What amount (if any) should Sony report as a liability at the end of the year?"

The business cycle is the periodic but irregular up-and-down movement in economic activity, measured by fluctuations in real gross domestic product (gdp) and other macroeconomic variables. a business cycle is typically characterized by four phases—recession, recovery, growth, and decline—that repeat themselves over time. economists note, however, that complete business cycles vary in length. the duration of business cycles can be anywhere from about two to twelve years, with most cycles averaging six years in length. some business analysts use the business cycle model and terminology to study and explain fluctuations in business inventory and other individual elements of corporate operations. but the term "business cycle" is still primarily associated with larger (industry-wide, regional, national, or even international) business trends.