Which of the following will NOT tend to shift the consumption schedule upward?

• A. A decrease in disposable income
• B. A decrease in interest rates
• C. An increase in consumer wealth
• D. A rise in consumer confidence

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the consumption schedule shows the relationship between disposable income and consumer spending, holding other factors constant.
2. Recognize that an upward shift in the consumption schedule means that at every level of disposable income, consumers spend more than before.
3. Analyze each option to see if it would cause consumers to spend more at every income level: a decrease in interest rates lowers borrowing costs, encouraging more spending; an increase in consumer wealth makes people feel richer, leading to higher spending; a rise in consumer confidence makes consumers more optimistic, increasing spending.
4. Consider a decrease in disposable income: since disposable income is the income available after taxes, a decrease means consumers have less money to spend, which would not shift the consumption schedule upward but rather downward or cause movement along the schedule.
5. Conclude that a decrease in disposable income does NOT tend to shift the consumption schedule upward, while the other factors do.