In: Accounting
8-23 Variable manufacturing overhead variance analysis. The French Bread Company bakes baguettes for distribution to upscale grocery stores. The company has two direct-cost categories: direct materials and direct manufacturing labor. Variable manufacturing overhead is allocated to products on the basis of standard direct manufacturing labor-hours. Following is some budget data for the French Bread Company:
| 
 Direct manufacturing labor use  | 
 0.02 hours per baguette  | 
| 
 Variable manufacturing overhead  | 
 $10.00 per direct manufacturing labor-hour  | 
The French Bread Company provides the following additional data for the year ended December 31, 2017:
| 
 Planned (budgeted) output  | 
 3,200,000 baguettes  | 
| 
 Actual production  | 
 2,800,000 baguettes  | 
| 
 Direct manufacturing labor  | 
 50,400 hours  | 
| 
 Actual variable manufacturing overhead  | 
 $680,400  | 
Required:
1. What is the denominator level used for allocating variable manufacturing overhead? (That is, for how many direct manufacturing labor-hours is French Bread budgeting?)
2. Prepare a variance analysis of variable manufacturing overhead. Use Exhibit 8-4 (page 324) for reference.
3. Discuss the variances you have calculated and give possible explanations for them.
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