Below is a performance report that compares budgeted and actual profit in the sporting goods department of Maxwell's Department Store for the month of December.
Maxwell's Department Store
Sporting Goods
Performance Report
December 2008

Budget Actual Difference
Sales $600,000 $675,000 $75,000
Less:
Cost of merchandise 300,000 375,000 75,000
Salaries of sales staff 60,000 68,000 8,000
Controllable profit $240,000 $232,000 ($8,000)

Required:

a: Evaluate the department in terms of its increases in sales and expenses. Do you believe it would be useful to investigate either or both of the increases in expenses?

b. Consider storewide electricity cost. Would this cost be a controllable or a noncontrollable cost for the manager of sporting goods? Would it be useful to include a share of storewide electricity cost on the perforance report for sporting goods?