Classify each of the following costs as a product cost or period cost. If it is a product cost, classify it as direct (or indirect) materials, direct (or indirect) labor, or overhead. a. Wheat used to make flour at General Mills.
b. Sales commissions paid to sales personnel at Gap retail stores.
c. Costs incurred by General Motors to ship automobile seats purchased from the Lear Corporation to GM assembly plants.
d. Insurance paid on the Target retail stores in Michigan.

Product costs refer to the costs incurred to produce a good while period costs are more like general expenses incurred during a period.

a. Wheat used to make flour at General Mills. ⇒ PRODUCT COST. DIRECT MATERIAL.

Wheat is a main ingredient in producing flour so it is a product cost. It is also a direct material cost because it is directly involved in the making of flour which is the main product of General Mills.

b. Sales commissions paid to sales personnel at Gap retail stores. ⇒ PERIOD COST.

Sales commissions have nothing to do with the production of the goods so is a period cost that relates to general expenses incurred in a period.

c. Costs incurred by General Motors to ship automobile seats purchased from the Lear Corporation to GM assembly plants. ⇒ PRODUCT COST. DIRECT MATERIAL COST.

The automobile seats are necessary for the production of cars which makes them a product cost. Cars are the main product of GM and chairs are necessary for that so this is a direct material.

d. Insurance paid on the Target retail stores in Michigan. ⇒ PERIOD COST.

General period expense.

answer; institution;

answer(b) equal; set period;