What term describes the cycle that every product goes through from introduction to withdrawal?

• A. Product life cycle
• B. Product cycle
• C. Life cycle
• D. Cycle of products

Answer: (B)

Product life cycle describes the progression of a product in the market from launch to withdrawal. It typically moves through four stages: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. In introduction, sales are just starting and marketing support is high to build awareness. Growth brings sharper sales increases and more competition. Maturity is when sales peak or level off and profit margins may tighten as competitors compete. Decline follows as demand falls and decisions are needed about cost management or discontinuation. Understanding where a product sits in this cycle helps plan pricing, promotion, product changes, and distribution, and guides decisions about investment or when to retire the product. The term is precise and widely used; alternatives like “product cycle” or “life cycle” are less specific to the product’s market trajectory and can be ambiguous or refer to other kinds of cycles.