Which one of the following statements is correct concerning dividends in the U.S.?

a. The total amount of dividends paid by the S&P 500 companies has increased steadily every year since 1985.

b. Only financial sector firms decreased dividends in 2008.

c. Dividend amounts tend to react quickly to changes in the economy.

d. Firms tend to quickly adjust their dividends to changes in the firm's earnings per share.

e. There are less than 75 companies in the U.S. that have consistently increased their dividends for at least the past 25 years.