An increase in the price level Question content area bottom Part 1 A. lowers the purchasing power of wealth and causes consumption expenditures to decrease. B. shifts the AE curve upward and increases equilibrium real GDP. C. shifts the AE curve downward and increases equilibrium real GDP. D. leads to a movement along the AE curve rather than a shift of the curve. E. increases the purchasing power of wealth and causes consumption expenditures to increase