What is the term for an official statement of a company’s financial activities over a certain period?

The term for an official statement of a company’s financial activities over a certain period is indeed the income statement. This financial report summarizes the revenues and expenses of a business, ultimately showing the net profit or loss for the period in question. It provides crucial information about how much money the company earned and spent during that timeframe, which is essential for stakeholders to assess the company's performance.

An income statement typically covers a specific duration, such as a quarter or a year, allowing for comparison of financial performance across different periods. This makes it a key tool for both management and investors when analyzing the company’s profitability and operational efficiency.

While other financial statements like the balance sheet and cash flow statement are also important, they serve different purposes. The balance sheet offers a snapshot of a company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a particular point in time, while the cash flow statement details the cash generated and used during a specific period, focusing on liquidity rather than overall profitability. The profit and loss statement is essentially another name for the income statement, but it is less commonly used in formal contexts in recent professional settings. Therefore, the income statement is the most appropriate and correct answer in this context.