Enabling the Cascade Option Pricing option will allow changes on the main product pricing screen to affect prices set on product variations.
By default product variations have their own pricing (and stock) set independantly of the main price.
You can set this option on the main product detail page immediately below the rrp and price fields.
You can set cascading pricing as a default option for all new products...
Under shop setup, customise display options, product view options, tick this one.. "Cascade Variant Pricing By Default"