Which of the following is considered a non-operating expense?

Non-operating expenses are costs that are not directly tied to the core operations of a business. They typically arise from activities that do not contribute to the primary revenue-generating functions of the company. Interest expenses fall under this category because they are related to the cost of financing, such as the interest incurred on debt, rather than the costs associated with producing goods or delivering services.

In contrast, marketing expenses, direct wages, and raw materials costs are all closely associated with a company's core operations. Marketing expenses are necessary for promoting the business and generating sales, direct wages pertain to the labor costs incurred in producing goods and services, and raw materials costs represent the inputs required to manufacture products. These items reflect the operational costs incurred to maintain business activities, distinguishing them from non-operating expenses like interest, which stems from financing decisions rather than operational performance.