Arrange the following steps in the correct order to illustrate how an increase in production costs affects the market equilibrium for a product: A) The supply curve shifts leftward due to increased production costs, B) The market price of the product rises, C) The quantity of the product sold decreases, D) Consumers adjust their purchasing behavior in response to higher prices.

When production costs increase, the first step is that the supply curve shifts leftward, which means that producers are willing to supply less of the product at each price level. As a result of this shift, the market price of the product rises because there is less supply available to meet the same level of demand. With the higher price, the quantity of the product sold decreases because some consumers may decide to buy less or look for alternatives. Finally, consumers adjust their purchasing behavior in response to these higher prices, which can further influence demand in the market. For example, if the price of a popular snack increases, some people might choose to buy a different snack instead.