Bed & Bath, a retailing company, has two departments, Hardware and Linens. The company’s most recent monthly contribution format income statement follows: Department Total Hardware Linens Sales $ 4,320,000 $ 3,120,000 $ 1,200,000 Variable expenses 1,241,000 827,000 414,000 Contribution margin 3,079,000 2,293,000 786,000 Fixed expenses 2,200,000 1,340,000 860,000 Net operating income (loss) $ 879,000 $ 953,000 $ (74,000 ) A study indicates that $373,000 of the fixed expenses being charged to Linens are sunk costs or allocated costs that will continue even if the Linens Department is dropped. In addition, the elimination of the Linens Department will result in a 14% decrease in the sales of the Hardware Department.

Required: If the Linens Department is dropped, what will be the effect on the net operating income of the company as a whole?