Critical Reasoning (CR) | Re: The Chabberton Post-Gazette reported that the overall volume of retail

The Post-Gazette based that conclusion on a survey of all retail stores that were in business in Chabberton throughout both of those years: thesestores , taken together, had a smaller sales volume last year than the yearbefore.

The premise talks about the stores operating both the past years. The conclusion also talks about the same stores as it mentions "these stores...."

so how can the new stores cast a doubt on the conclusion when they are participating neither in the premise nor in theconclusion...