Final answer:
Government spending on federal highways can stimulate economic growth and improve transportation infrastructure, benefiting consumers by creating jobs, boosting economic activity, and enabling faster movement of goods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between expenditures on federal highways and the quality of goods available to consumers is indirect but significant. Government spending on roads and bridges, including federal highways, can stimulate economic growth and improve transportation infrastructure, which ultimately benefits consumers. When the government invests in building or maintaining highways, it creates jobs and boosts economic activity in the construction industry. Additionally, efficient transportation networks enable faster and more cost-effective movement of goods, leading to a wider variety of goods available to consumers and potentially lower prices.