Which of the following statements about healthcare spending in 2014 is supported by the graph?

• A. Healthcare spending decreased significantly in 2014.
• B. Healthcare spending was the lowest among all categories in 2014.
• C. Healthcare spending increased compared to previous years.
• D. Healthcare spending remained unchanged from 2013 to 2014.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the key variable to analyze, which is healthcare spending in 2014, and understand that the question asks about its trend compared to previous years.
2. Step 2: Examine the graph carefully to observe the pattern of healthcare spending over the years leading up to 2014, noting whether the spending line or bar is increasing, decreasing, or stable.
3. Step 3: Compare the healthcare spending value in 2014 with the values from previous years to determine if there is an increase, decrease, or no change.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the other statements by checking if healthcare spending was the lowest among all categories in 2014, or if it decreased significantly, or remained unchanged, based on the graph data.
5. Step 5: Conclude which statement is supported by the graph by matching the observed trend with the options provided, focusing on the increase in healthcare spending compared to previous years.