A manufacturer has an estimated practical capacity of 90,000 machine hours, and each unit requires two machine hours. The following data apply to a recent accounting period: Actual variable overhead$ 240,000 Actual fixed overhead$ 442,000 Actual machine hours worked 88,000 Actual finished units produced 42,000 Budgeted variable overhead at 90,000 machine hours$ 200,000 Budgeted fixed overhead$ 450,000 Of the following factors, the manufacturer's production volume variance is most likely to have been caused by: A. A wage hike granted to a production supervisor. B. A newly imposed initiative to reduce finished goods inventory levels. C. Acceptance of an unexpected sales order. D. Temporary employment of workers with lower skill levels than originally anticipated.

Of the following factors, the manufacturer's production volume variance is most likely to have been caused by:

D. Temporary employment of workers with lower skill levels than originally anticipated.

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Estimated practical capacity = 90,000 machine hours

Machine hours per unit = 2

Estimated production units based on capacity = 45,000 (90,000/2)

                                                   Budgeted          Actual

Variable overhead =                 $200,000      $240,000

Actual fixed overhead =           $450,000      $442,000

Machine hours                             90,000           88,000

Units produced                            45,000           42,000

Estimated units to be produced based on standard machine hour

= 44,000 units (88,000/2)

Variance between standard units to be produced and actual = 2,000 (44,000 - 42,000) Unfavorable

answer; coefficient of correlation;

answer the law of increasing costs;