Rising inventories

[j_shreyans]

Rising inventories, when unaccompanied correspondingly by increase in sales, can lead to production cutbacks that would hamper economic growth.

A) when unaccompanied correspondingly by increase in sales, can lead

B) when not accompanied by corresponding increases in sales, possibly leads

C) when they were unaccompanied by corresponding sales, possibly leads

D) if not accompanied by correspondingly increased in sales, possibly leads

E) if not accompanied by corresponding increases in sales, can lead

OAE

Please explain and also why not when and why if?

[GMATGuruNY]

Rising inventories, when unaccompanied
correspondingly by increases in sales, can lead
to production cutbacks that would hamper
economic growth.

(A) when unaccompanied correspondingly by
increases in sales, can lead

(B) when not accompanied by corresponding
increases in sales, possibly leads

(C) when they were unaccompanied by
corresponding sales increases, can lead

(D) if not accompanied by correspondingly
increased sales, possibly leads

(E) if not accompanied by corresponding increases
in sales, can lead

correspondingly means in a similar way.
A: unaccompanied correspondingly by increases in sales
Here, the conveyed meaning -- that rising inventories are unaccompanied in a similar way by increases in sales -- is nonsensical.
Eliminate A.

In B and D, leads (singular) does not agree with inventories (plural).
Eliminate B and D.

C implies that a PRESENT ACTION (can lead) occurs at the same time as a PAST ACTION (were accompanied) -- an illogical sequence.
Eliminate C.

The correct answer is E.

Be wary of the usage of WHEN.
On the GMAT, a when-clause must serve to express CONCURRENCE: one action happening AT THE SAME TIME as another action.
Answer choice A: Rising inventories, when [they are unaccompanied]...can lead to production cutbacks.
Here, the usage of when implies that inventories can lead to production comebacks only at one particular moment: WHEN they are unaccompanied.
Not the intended meaning.
The intention here is to express not concurrence but a CONDITION: that one action happens only IF another happens.
Eliminate A, B and C.