Which of the following data is least helpful as an indicator of consumer surplus or willingness to pay in the real estate market?

• A. The color of the front doors of homes in the area
• B. The average price per square foot of homes sold
• C. The difference between listing prices and final sale prices
• D. The number of bedrooms in recently sold homes

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of consumer surplus: it is the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good or service and what they actually pay.
2. Identify which data points relate directly to consumer preferences or willingness to pay. For example, the average price per square foot, the difference between listing and final sale prices, and the number of bedrooms all provide information about value or demand.
3. Analyze the relevance of each data point: the average price per square foot reflects market valuation, the difference between listing and sale prices indicates negotiation and willingness to pay, and the number of bedrooms affects utility and thus willingness to pay.
4. Consider the color of the front doors: this is a purely aesthetic characteristic that generally does not influence the economic valuation or willingness to pay in a significant way.
5. Conclude that among the options, the color of the front doors is least helpful as an indicator of consumer surplus or willingness to pay because it does not provide meaningful economic information about the value consumers place on the homes.