Explaining a budget variance in Spanish

The idea

Compare actual and planned amounts, state the cause and describe the effect on available funds.

Examples

• El gasto real superó lo presupuestado en un diez por ciento.Actual spending exceeded the budget by ten percent.
• La diferencia se debe al aumento del precio de los materiales.The difference is due to the rise in material prices.
• Previmos veinte mil euros, pero gastamos veintidós mil.We budgeted twenty thousand euros but spent twenty-two thousand.
• Los costes de transporte fueron inferiores a lo previsto.Transport costs were lower than expected.
• El sobrecoste reducirá los fondos disponibles para la próxima fase.The cost overrun will reduce funds available for the next phase.
• Revisaremos las previsiones antes de aprobar nuevos gastos.We will revise the forecasts before approving new spending.

Watch out

A higher cost is not the same as a higher budget; specify which figure increased.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the word that completes the sentence. El gasto fue mayor de lo ___. (previsto / perdido)

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   previsto

   previsto identifies the planned amount.

2. Choose the word that completes the sentence. La diferencia se ___ al precio de la energía. (debe / viste)

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   debe

   debe introduces the cause of the difference.

3. Choose the word that completes the sentence. El sobrecoste puede ___ los fondos restantes. (reducir / saludar)

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   reducir

   reducir describes the effect on remaining funds.

Use it today

Explain a variance and its effect on the next phase.