Critical Reasoning

From 1965 to 1988, spending on food in the United States climbed 46 percent. But over that same period, spending on food to be consumed at home — purchased mainly from supermarkets — grew by only 20 percent.
Which of the following statements about the period from 1965 to 1988 in the United States is best supported by the statements above?
(A) Spending on food increased at restaurants and other food retailers that prepare food to be consumed away from home.
(B) Shoppers spent more on certain food products to be consumed at home that are not generally available in supermarkets.
(C) Food prices at supermarkets neither rose nor dropped relative to food prices at other food retailers.
(D There was a decrease in the number of heads of households, who tend to spend more than other household members on food consumed away from home.
(E) The number of people who ate at restaurants decreased relative to the number of people who ordered take-out food from restaurants.

is it A??

i am confused between two choices..!!

Apparently It has to be A/B I was torn and chose B even though situation in A came to my mind, when I read the Questions and paraphrased it in my mind

One reasoning each for A & B

From 1965 to 1988, spending on food in the United States climbed 46 percent. But over that same period, spending on food to be consumed at home — purchased mainly from supermarkets — grew by only 20 percent.

A says

Spending on food increased at restaurants and other food retailers that prepare food to be consumed away from home.

When I read A,

Spending on Food =

Spending on Food bought at supermarkets (to consume at home)

+

Spending on Food bought at restaurants or others that is not consumed at home

I felt A was a keeper

Now comes B

Shoppers spent more on certain food products to be consumed at home that are not generally available in supermarkets.

As per this

Spending on Food =

Spending on Food bought at supermarkets to be consumed at home

+

Spending on Food bought else where other than supermarkets to be consumed at home

First difference to me was in B both the pieces of spending talk about the spending on food consumed at home as opposed to A which talks about spending on food at home and away from home

The second difference was in A spending is between SM & Rest/Others and in B, it is SM & Non SM

As this is a inference/conclusion Q, I decided not to bring in the out side Restaurant spending and also food consumed away from home.

If you have read so far, Can you enlighten me why B is wrong? Where did I go wrong? I initially picked A but changed my response to B after thinking that its an inference Q and also B keeps it about food consumed at home.

chidcguy wrote:Apparently It has to be A/B I was torn and chose B even though situation in A came to my mind, when I read the Questions and paraphrased it in my mind

One reasoning each for A & B

From 1965 to 1988, spending on food in the United States climbed 46 percent. But over that same period, spending on food to be consumed at home — purchased mainly from supermarkets — grew by only 20 percent.

A says

Spending on food increased at restaurants and other food retailers that prepare food to be consumed away from home.

When I read A,

Spending on Food =

Spending on Food bought at supermarkets (to consume at home)

+

Spending on Food bought at restaurants or others that is not consumed at home

I felt A was a keeper

Now comes B

Shoppers spent more on certain food products to be consumed at home that are not generally available in supermarkets.

As per this

Spending on Food =

Spending on Food bought at supermarkets to be consumed at home

+

Spending on Food bought else where other than supermarkets to be consumed at home

First difference to me was in B both the pieces of spending talk about the spending on food consumed at home as opposed to A which talks about spending on food at home and away from home

The second difference was in A spending is between SM & Rest/Others and in B, it is SM & Non SM

As this is a inference/conclusion Q, I decided not to bring in the out side Restaurant spending and also food consumed away from home.

If you have read so far, Can you enlighten me why B is wrong? Where did I go wrong? I initially picked A but changed my response to B after thinking that its an inference Q and also B keeps it about food consumed at home.

Same was the case with me A or B.

I choosed A, because A is more closer to both the evidence
Evidence 1 -> food spending increased
Evidence 2 -> sale of food products (to be consumed away from home) decreased.

A shows that food spending increased because people were buying food from restaurents and the food was of type -> (to be consumed away from home) ...corresponding to evidence 2

In case of B, it only gives the reasoning for evidence 2.

It's my understanding..that A was more closer to given evidence.....

B is my IMO ... what is OA?

OA is A.

The A is the best choice

I must admit that A seems to be the answer. What's OA?