Which of the following statements regarding corporate chains is most accurate?

Corporate chains cannot bargain with a manufacturer to obtain product volume discounts due to federal anticompetitive legislation$$the Clayton Act as amended by the Sherman Act.

Corporate chains generally own most if not all of their suppliers$$a practice known as forward integration$$so they can save distribution costs.

Consumers have fewer choices in merchandise since all buying decisions are made by a decentralized buying committee.

Corporate chains offer the least benefit to consumers since they are the farthest removed from the ultimate consumer.

Corporate chains are multiple outlets under common ownership.