If a consumer finds that the marginal utility per dollar spent on apples is greater than that of oranges, what is the most likely cause of this effect?

The consumer’s marginal utility per dollar is higher for apples because each apple gives more extra satisfaction than each orange for the same price, so the apples provide a better “bang for the buck. ” This happens when the consumer’s taste or preference for apples is stronger, or the apples are cheaper, or the consumer has already eaten many oranges so their extra utility from another orange is lower. The diminishing‑utility rule means that after eating several oranges, each additional orange feels less useful, while apples still feel useful. Thus the higher marginal‑utility‑per‑dollar for apples is most likely caused by a stronger preference or lower price relative to oranges.