The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
In National Income Accounting, investment (Gross Capital Formation) comprises Gross Fixed Capital Formation and Inventory Investment. Inventory investment represents the net change in the physical stock of goods held by a firm over a specific accounting period.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Inventory investment is defined as the change in the stock of unsold finished goods, semi-finished goods (work-in-progress), and raw materials held by a firm. It is mathematically expressed as Closing Stock minus Opening Stock.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Unplanned inventory accumulation occurs when actual sales are lower than the planned or expected sales. In such a case, the firm is left with unsold goods it did not intend to store. Conversely, if actual sales exceed planned sales, it results in unplanned inventory decumulation (a reduction in stock).
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Inventory investment is not always positive. It can be negative if the firm’s closing stock is less than its opening stock. This occurs when a firm sells more goods than it produces or purchases during the period, thereby depleting its existing inventory.
Key Takeaway:
Inventory investment is a flow variable calculated as the difference between closing and opening stock. It can be positive (accumulation) or negative (decumulation) and is a crucial component of the Expenditure Method of calculating GDP.