In situations of sticky prices and negative demand shocks, we would expect firms to A. deplete inventories before increasing production. B. reduce production before building up inventories. C. build up inventories before reducing production. D. lower prices before reducing production or building up inventories.

Demand shocks happen when there is a sudden and considerable shift in the patterns of private spending, either in the form of consumer spending from consumers or investment spending from businesses. An economic downturn in the economy of a major export market can create a negative shock to business investment, particularly in export industries. A crash in stock or home prices can cause a negative demand shock as households react to a loss of wealth by cutting back sharply on consumption spending. Supply shocks to consumer commodities with price inelastic demand, such as food and energy, can also lead to a demand shock by reducing consumers real incomes. Economists sometimes refer to demand side shocks as "non-technological shocks." We need to build up inventories before reducing production.