单选题 Once consumers recognize that a period of inflation has begun, there is generally an increase in consumer spending. This increase can be readily explained by consumers' desire not to postpone purchases that will surely increase in price. But during protracted periods of inflation, consumers eventually begin to put off making even routine purchases, despite the fact that consumers continue to expect prices to rise and despite the fact that salaries also rise during inflationary periods.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the apparent inconsistency in consumer behavior described above?

A、 During times of inflation consumers save more money than they do in noninflationary periods.
B、 There is usually a lag between the leading economic indicators' first signaling the onset of an inflationary period and consumers' recognition of its onset.
C、 No generalization that describes human behavior will be true of every type of human behavior.
D、 If significant numbers of consumers are unable to make purchases, prices will eventually fall but salaries will not be directly affected.
E、 (E) Consumers' purchasing power decreases during periods of protracted inflation since salaries do not keep pace with prices.

【正确答案】 E

【答案解析】[解析] 根据消费者们在通货膨胀开始阶段对物价上涨所做的反应，我们可以推知只有在工资上涨跟不上物价的上涨，从而迫使消费者们的购买力下降的前提下，消费者们才不得不在长期的通货膨脂阶段推迟甚至是日常生活品的购买，因此(E)是正确答案；(A)、(B)、(C)和(D)都为无关选项。