Answer:
C. The actual variable overhead costs were lower than the budgeted costs.
Explanation:
Variable Overhead Cost variance =Budgeted cost - Actual Cost
where this value is positive, this is favorable, where this is negative it is unfavorable.
Actual cost = Actual hours X Actual rate per hour
Budgeted Cost = Budgeted hours for actual level of production X Budgeted rate per hour
Even if actual hours are lower than budgeted it will not lead to favorable overhead as actual rate per hour might be less.
Total variable overhead will only be favorable when net actual variable overhead cost is less than budgeted variable overhead costs.
C. The actual variable overhead costs were lower than the budgeted costs.