Which of the following best describes total variable costs?

Total variable costs are best described as costs that vary directly with output and sales. This means that as production increases or decreases, these costs will fluctuate correspondingly. For instance, if a company produces more goods, the costs associated with raw materials, labor for production, and shipping will increase due to the larger volume of output. Conversely, if production decreases, these costs will reduce as fewer resources are needed.

This characteristic of total variable costs highlights their direct relationship with production levels, illustrating why businesses need to closely monitor them to understand their cost structure and pricing strategies. In contrast, the other options present concepts that do not capture the essence of total variable costs: one describes costs that remain static regardless of production, another refers to regular fixed costs unrelated to output, and the last focuses specifically on marketing expenses, which do not encompass the broader definition of variable costs.