D

1) There is relatively little room for growth in the overall carpet market
2) Market is tied to the size of the population.
3) Most who purchase carpet do so only once or twice, first in their twenties or thirties, and then perhaps again in their fifties or sixties.
4) Thus as the population ages, companies producing carpet will be able to gain market share in the carpet market only through purchasing competitors, and not through more aggressive marketing.

Which one of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the conclusion above?

(A) Most of the major carpet producers market other floor coverings as well.
- out of scope

(B) Most established carpet producers market several different brand names and varieties, and there is no remaining niche in the market for new brands to fill.
- out of scope

(C) Two of the three mergers in the industry’s last ten years led to a decline in profits and revenues for the newly merged companies.
- out of scope

(D) Price reductions, achieved by cost-cutting in production, by some of the dominant firms in the carpet market are causing other producers to leave the market altogether.
- This one tells us another reason why companies are not able to gain market share

(E) The carpet market is unlike most markets in that consumers are becoming increasingly resistant to new patterns and styles.
- Not important

D it is.

C for me too.
Please post the OA

(C) for me. (D) looks irrelevant to me.

The OA is D.