Which of the following is a direct cost associated with a product?

A direct cost is explicitly tied to the production of a specific product and can be traced directly to the product itself. In this case, materials used in production represent a direct cost because they are an essential component of the product and contribute directly to its creation. Every unit of product produced incurs these costs, making them variable and easily measurable.

On the other hand, the other options are categorized differently. General administrative expenses, marketing expenses, and utilities for the corporate office are considered indirect costs. These costs support the overall operation of the business rather than being directly attributable to a specific product. General administrative expenses cover overhead that benefits the entire organization. Marketing expenses promote the product but do not form part of the product itself, and utilities for the corporate office are related to maintaining the company’s infrastructure rather than directly impacting individual product costs. Therefore, only materials used in production are classified as direct costs.