Question

1. what did installment buying help people do?

Explanation:

Installment buying (also known as buying on credit or hire - purchase) allowed people to purchase goods (such as consumer durables like cars, household appliances) that they might not have been able to afford to buy in one lump sum. It enabled them to spread out the cost of the purchase over a period of time, usually in regular payments (installments). This helped in increasing the consumption of goods, as people could acquire items immediately and pay for them gradually. It also contributed to the growth of consumer - based economies by boosting sales for businesses, as more people could afford to buy their products. For example, in the 1920s in the United States, installment buying became very popular for items like automobiles, which led to a boom in the automotive industry and increased the standard of living for many as they could own cars without having the full amount upfront.

Answer:

Installment buying helped people purchase goods (e.g., consumer durables like cars, appliances) they couldn't afford upfront by spreading costs over time, increasing consumption, and boosting consumer - based economic growth.