A surge in new home sales and a drop in weekly unemployment claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought.

A. claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought
B. claims suggests that the economy might not be so weak as some analysts have previously thought
C. claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some analysts
D. claims, suggesting about the economy that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some analysts
E. claims, suggesting the economy might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some analysts

Isn't "A Surge" the main subject rather than the plural subject?
A Surge in X and Y suggests that.... ?

Similar to OG 11 138

The direction in which the Earth and the other solid planets-Mercury, Venus, and Mars- spin was determined by collisions with giant celestial bodies in the early history of the Solar System.

The direction...........was determined by

Can anyone please explain?