A Newspaper Story on the Effect of Higher Milk Prices

question 113

Multiple Choice

A newspaper story on the effect of higher milk prices on the market for ice cream contained
The following:
"As a result [of the increase in milk prices],retail prices for ice cream are up 4 percent from last year....And ice cream consumption is down 3 percent."
Source: John Curran,"Ice Cream,They Scream: Milk Fat Costs Drive Up Ice Cream Prices," Associated Press,July 23,2001.
Based on the information given,what is the price elasticity of demand for ice cream?

• A)0.75 (in absolute value)
• B)1.33 (in absolute value)
• C)12%
• D)We do not have enough information to calculate the elasticity.