Model: Over- or Under-absorption

The budgeted activity and cost data for each half year of XY Ltd were as follows:

Direct labour hours

34,000

Direct wages

21,250

Overhead:

18,700

Fixed variable

32,300

During the first six months, the following actual results were achieved:

Direct labour hours incurred

32,500

Direct wages

42,750

Overhead:

19,350

Fixed variable

32,900

The existing method of absorbing overhead is by a direct-wage percentage rate. A proposal has been made to change the overhead absorption to a direct labour-hour rate analysed into fixed and variable overhead.

You are required to calculate under the new proposal (i.e., using direct labour-hour rates of absorption) for the first six months period:

  1. The budget of direct labour-hour rates of overhead absorption for fixed and variable overheads.
  2. The absorbed overhead.
  3. The over- or under-absorbed overhead.