Final answer:
The retirement of bonds payable at their maturity date is classified as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows, reflecting the company's repayment of a long-term liability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The retirement of bonds payable at their maturity date is recorded in the statement of cash flows as a financing activity. This is because the repayment of debt is related to the financing of the company's operations. Financing activities typically include transactions involving long-term liabilities and equity. When a company retires its bonds, it is essentially settling a long-term liability, which is a use of cash within the financing section of the cash flow statement.