What type of data was used by a boutique when selecting inventory based on an internet article about fashion trends in Europe?

The choice of secondary data is appropriate because it refers to information that has already been collected and published by others. In this case, the boutique relied on an internet article about fashion trends in Europe, which implies that this data was gathered and presented by a third-party source rather than being collected directly by the boutique itself.

Secondary data is essential for businesses as it often provides valuable insights without the need for extensive research efforts. Since the article summarizes existing trends rather than presenting new findings originating from the boutique, it serves as a resource for understanding the market rather than being raw data collected firsthand.

Primary data would involve the boutique conducting its own research, such as surveys or interviews with customers about their preferences. Qualitative data pertains to descriptive information that is subjective, such as opinions and feelings, while quantitative data deals with numerical values and statistics, which doesn't apply in this scenario where the focus is on trends communicated in the article. Thus, secondary data is the correct choice for this question.