The director of cost management for Portland Instrument Corporation compares each months actual results with a monthly plan. The standard direct-labor rates for the year just ended and the standard hours allowed, given the actual output in April, are shown in the following schedule.

	Standard Direct-Labor Rate per Hour				Standard Direct-Labor Hours Allowed, Given April Output
Labor class III	$	24.10				1,100
Labor class II		21.10				1,100
Labor class I		15.10				1,100

A new union contract negotiated in March resulted in actual wage rates that differed from the standard rates. The actual direct-labor hours worked and the actual direct-labor rates per hour experienced for the month of April were as follows:

	Actual Direct-Labor Rate per Hour				Actual Direct-Labor Hours
Labor class III	$	25.90				1,200
Labor class II		22.60				1,400
Labor class I		16.30				850

Required:

1. 1-a. Compute the direct-labor rate variance for each labor class for the month of April.

2. 1-b. Compute the direct-labor efficiency variance for each labor class for the month of April.

3. 2. Which of the following could be considered an advantage of using a standard-costing system in which the standard direct-labor rates are not changed during the year to reflect such events as a new labor contract

Compute the direct-labor rate variance for each labor class for the month of April. (Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "Favorable" or "Unfavorable". Select "None" and enter "0" for no effect (i.e., zero variance).)

Labor Class
III	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct
II	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct
I	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct
Total	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct

Compute the direct-labor rate variance for each labor class for the month of April. (Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "Favorable" or "Unfavorable". Select "None" and enter "0" for no effect (i.e., zero variance).)

Labor Class
III	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct
II	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct
I	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct
Total	not attempted	Unfavorableselected answer correct