Final answer:
Future growth in accounts payable is most likely impacted by an increase in inventory, reflecting the relationship between these items across the financial statements. This articulation helps in understanding the flow between purchasing inventory on credit and the corresponding increase in accounts payable. Option number a is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Forecasts of future growth in accounts payable are most likely impacted by growth in inventory. This is due to the fact that as a company purchases more inventory, the accounts payable generally increases because inventory purchases are often made on credit.
The relationship between accounts payable and inventory is a reflection of the articulation across the financial statements, specifically the balance sheet where both inventory and accounts payable are reported, and the income statement, which may reflect the cost of goods sold when inventory is sold. Additionally, an increase in inventory purchase may be a sign of expected sales growth, which is also a factor in forecasting accounts payable.