HOUSING PRICES

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HOUSING PRICES

by FINALCOUNTDOWN » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:14 pm
In January there was a large drop in the number of new houses sold, because interest rates for mortgages were falling and many consumers were waiting to see how low the rates would go. This large sales drop was accompanied by a sharp rise in the average price of new houses sold.
Which of the following, if true, best explains the sharp rise in the average price of new houses?
(A) Sales of higher-priced houses were unaffected by the sales drop because their purchasers have fewer constraints limiting the total amount they pay.
(B) Labor agreements of builders with construction unions are not due to expire until the next January.
(C) The prices of new houses have been rising slowly over the past three years because there is an increasing shortage of housing.
(D) There was a greater amount of moderate-priced housing available for resale by owners during January than in the preceding three months.
(E) Interest rates for home mortgages are expected to rise sharply later in the year if predictions of increased business activity in general prove to be accurate.
A
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by bmlaud » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:23 pm
A, clearly explains the paradox.

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by srn » Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:23 am
IMO C.
Whats the OA answer?

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by nervesofsteel » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:45 am
IMO A

because if sale of cheap houses has decreased .. where as the amount contributed to average by Costly houses doesn't decrease ....

Then average = Total Cost/ number of houses sold...

The Total cost has not decreased much...
whereas number of houses has decreased.. thus increasing the average.. even though the sale of houses has decreased...

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by Shivani Varma » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:46 am
I think the answer should be D

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by Shivani Varma » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:50 am
I feel its D. whats the OA

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by graem83d » Sun May 15, 2016 2:43 am
I would choose A. But i am not sure of my answer