The following selected data were taken from the accounting records of Manitoba Manufacturing Company. The company uses direct-labor hours as its cost driver for overhead costs.

June’s costs consisted of machine supplies ($153,000), depreciation ($22,500), and plant maintenance ($703,500). These costs Exhibit the following respective behavior: variable, fixed, and semivariable.
The manufacturing overhead figures presented in the preceding table do not include supervisory labor cost, which is step-fixed in nature. For volume levels of less than 15,000 hours, supervisory labor amounts to $67,500. The cost is $135,000 from 15,000–29,999 hours and $202,500 when activity reaches 30,000 hours or more.

Required:
1. Determine the machine supplies cost and depreciation for April.
2. Using the high-low method, analyze Manitoba Manufacturing Company’s plant maintenance cost and calculate the monthly fixed portion and the variable cost per direct-labor hour.
3. Assume that present cost behavior patterns continue into the latter half of the year. Estimate the total amount of manufacturing overhead the company can expect in October if 29,500 direct-labor hours are worked.
4. Briefly explain the difference between a fixed cost and a step-fixed cost.
5. Assume that a company has a step-fixed cost. Generally speaking, where on a step should the firm attempt to operate if it desires to achieve a maximum return on itsinvestment?

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Manufacturing Overhead $749,250 720,000 772,500 681,000 775,500 879,000 Month January February Direct-Labor Hours March April May. une... 26,000 25,000 28,000 23,000 30,000... 34,000