Final answer:
Correlation is a statistical relationship between two variables, but it does not imply causation. Consumers should be aware of this because many claims of causation are based solely on correlation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Correlation is a statistical relationship between two variables, indicating the strength and direction of their relationship. However, correlation does not imply causation. This means that just because two variables are correlated, it does not necessarily mean that one variable causes changes in the other. For example, ice cream sales and crime rates may be correlated due to a confounding variable like temperature.
It is important for consumers to be aware of the correlation-causation relationship because many advertisements and news stories make claims of causation based on correlations. Without conducting experiments, it is difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Therefore, consumers should be critical of claims that imply causation solely based on correlation.