During June, the Conchran Manufacturing Company's costing system reported several variances that the production manager was surprised to see. Most of the company's monthly variances are under $125, even though they may be either favorable or unfavorable. The following information is for the manufacture of garden gates, its only product.

(1) Direct materials price variance, $800 unfavorable. (2) Direct materials efficiency variance, $1,800 favorable. (3) Direct manufacturing labor price variance, $4,000 favorable. (4) Direct manufacturing labor efficiency variance, $600 unfavorable. Provide the manager with some ideas as to what may have caused the price