The Average Monthly Sales $y$ (In Billions of Dollars) in Retail Trade in the United

Multiple Choice

The average monthly sales $y$ (in billions of dollars) in retail trade in the United States from 1996 to 2005 can be approximated by the model $y = 22 + 117 \ln t,$ $6 \leq t \leq 15$ where $t$ represents the year, with $t = 6$ corresponding to 1996. Estimate the year in which the average monthly sales first exceeded $310 billion.

A) 2001
B) 2004
C) 2002
D) 2000
E) 1996