Answer the following questions about forecasting the demand for athletic shoes.

a$.$ In $2019,$ researchers in the college of business at the University of Oregon forecast that sales of athletic shoes in the United States would increase by $6\mathrm{.}4$ percent. In fact, sales declined by $9\mathrm{.}9$ percent.

What best explains why their $2019$ forecast was inaccurate? Does this error provide any insights into how businesses should treat sales forecasts?

A$.$ Sales decreased so dramatically as a result of a price increase for shoes. If business wouldn't have raised prices, their forecasts would have likely been correct.

B$.$ It would have been nearly impossible for forecasters to have anticipated the pandemic and the impact it would have on the U$.$S$.$ economy in $2020.$ Even so$,$ forecasts are still important so businesses can make plans that affect inventories, buildings, and hiring decisions.

C$.$ Consumers tastes switched from athletic shoes to more stylish shoes, which forecasts should have more accurately predicted from recent trends.

D$.$ The main reason for the decline in sales was the Covid$-19$ pandemic. The fact that forecasts did not account for this proves that forecasts are