[E]OG-131，请指点！

excellent

131. The Commerce Department announced that the economy grew during the second quarter at a 7.5 percent annual rate, while inflation eased when it might have been expected for it to rise.
A.it might have been expected for it to rise
B.it might have been expected to rise
C.it might have been expected that it should rise
D.its rise might have been expected
E.there might have been an expectation it would rise

问两个问题。1、while在这儿是什么意思？2、答案B中时态为什么用might have been expected，这不是一种推测吗？哪个牛牛能帮我把这后半句分析一下？谢谢！

Snazzy

1, 'while' means 'but', but its degree is very slight, or 'at the same time' . eg:
I went out for a dinner tonight while my friend stayed in to watch TV.
2, might have been expected ---> subjunctive mood in past tense