Mall manager: By congregating in large groups near the stores in our mall, teenagers create an atmosphere in which many adult shoppers feel uncomfortable. As a result, the adults have begun to spend less time shopping than they have in the past. The mall' s goal in this situation is to prevent a significant loss in overall sales, so merchants should do their utmost to discourage teenagers from congregating near stores. Merchant: But the amount spent by teenagers who congregate near mall stores constitutes a significant percentage of the total amount spent in those stores.
The merchant's response to the manager's argument is most accurately described as giving information that pertains to the relation between the manager's recommendation and the mall's goal.