A company's gross profit rate is lower this year compared to the prior year. Which of the following would not be a possible cause for this decline in the gross profit rate?

Group of answer choices

The company began paying higher prices to suppliers without passing these costs on to customers.

The company began selling products with a higher markup.

The company offered more sales discounts to customers in order to sell as many units of inventory as the prior year.

The company's average margin between selling price and inventory cost decreased.

All of these would explain the decline in Bolton$$s gross profit rate.