Use this information for Stringer Company to answer the question that follow.

The following data are given for Stringer Company:

Budgeted production	935 units
Actual production	1,095 units
Materials:
Standard price per ounce	$1.83
Standard ounces per completed unit	12
Actual ounces purchased and used in production	13,534
Actual price paid for materials	$27,745
Labor:
Standard hourly labor rate	$14.80 per hour
Standard hours allowed per completed unit	4.1
Actual labor hours worked	5,639.25
Actual total labor costs	$85,999
Overhead:
Actual and budgeted fixed overhead	$1,008,000
Standard variable overhead rate	$26.00 per standard labor hour
Actual variable overhead costs	$157,899
Overhead is applied on standard labor hours.

Round your intermediate calculations and final answer to the nearest cent.

The direct materials price variance is

a.$7,443.70 favorable

b.$7,443.70 unfavorable

c.$2,977.48 favorable

d.$2,977.48 unfavorable