What does a 'general ledger' contain?

The general ledger serves as the central repository for all financial data related to a business's accounts. Specifically, it contains a complete record of all account information necessary for financial reporting. This encompasses various accounts, including assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, and expenses, thus providing a comprehensive view of the company's financial position and performance.

Each account in the general ledger provides detailed transactions that contribute to the totals found in the financial statements. By maintaining accurate records in the general ledger, businesses ensure that they can produce reliable financial statements in compliance with accounting standards. This level of detail allows for better financial analysis, tracking of financial performance over time, and informed decision-making for management.

In contrast, the other options focus on narrower or incomplete aspects of financial reporting. Summaries of financial statements do not provide the detailed transaction data found in the general ledger. Limiting the ledger to only revenue accounts would exclude essential information about expenses and other key accounts, failing to give a complete financial picture. Additionally, estimated expenses for the next period would not fall under the general ledger criteria, since the ledger typically records past and present transactions rather than future projections.