Banda Production, an Atlanta based company, is in the midst of its budgeting process. It has already prepared its direct materials usage budget and is now in the process of preparing its direct material purchase budget. In addition to the details gathered to prepare the direct materials usage budget, Banda also must know ________.

A) the target direct materials ending inventory

B) the ratio of direct materials to cost of goods sold

C) the beginning direct materials inventory level

D) the quantity of direct materials to be purchased