Average family income is right where it was 20 years ago, even though, in most families these days, husbands and wives are working. The above statement implies all the following except

Options

A. Even though nominal family income may have increased, inflation has risen at an equal rate
B. More husbands and wives are working today than 20 years ago
C. It was more prevalent for one spouse to work 20 years ago than today
D. Wives earn more than husbands today

Answer

D

Explanation

Alternative (D) cannot be implied from the statement. There is no information in the statement that implies that wives earn more than husbands. Alternative (A) may be implied because as wives contributed to the household nomial income, if prices increased at the same rate as the income, real income would stay the same. Alternatives (B) and (C ) are implicit in the statement.
If the added income contribution of wives leaves average family income at the level it was 20 years ago, then the reason must be that the price level was lower 20 years ago. So, (E) is implied.