What is indicated by a supply shortage in a market?

A supply shortage in a market occurs when the quantity demanded by consumers exceeds the quantity supplied by producers at a given price. This imbalance indicates that there are not enough goods available to meet consumer demand, which can lead to upward pressure on prices as consumers compete to secure the limited supply.

In a typical market scenario, when there is a shortage, it often signals that producers need to increase production or adjust their prices to get closer to the point of equilibrium, where supply equals demand. As a result, option B accurately reflects this situation, making it the correct choice.

Understanding this concept is crucial, as it highlights the dynamics of supply and demand in determining market conditions and the behavior of prices in response to different levels of availability and consumer desire for a product.