At the end of World War II in 1945, many economists and business managers expected that the U.S. economy would enter a severe recession. At that time, Sears and Montgomery Ward were the two largest department store chains in the country. Sears CEO Robert Wood expected continuing prosperity and opened new stores. Montgomery Ward CEO Sewell Avery expected falling incomes and rising unemployment and closed a number of existing stores. The results of their actions were seen during the late 1940s, when
A) Sears declared bankruptcy and was purchased by Montgomery Ward.
B) Montgomery Ward weathered the economic downturn in better financial shape than Sears.
C) Sears rapidly gained market share at Montgomery Ward's expense.
D) Sears had to close many of the new stores it had opened following the end of the war.