a grammar in GWD

Q40:

Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.

A.   because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will

B.   with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target

C.   because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would

D.   due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target

E.    due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will

the answer is (D)

BUT i cannot understand it.

以前讨论过，D多数人认为是错的，有人赞同C, 不过我还是倾向于A, C中的因果时态矛盾难以让人信服，具体可再参看置顶的GWD讨论帖中相应的帖子。