Time Series Forecasting and Index Numbers

Statistics for Managers Using Microsoft Excel, 4e © 2004 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Chap 15-1
Chapter 15
Time-Series Forecasting and
Index Numbers
Statistics for Managers
Using Microsoft®
Excel
4th
Edition

Statistics for Managers Using
Microsoft Excel, 4e © 2004
Prentice-Hall, Inc. Chap 15-2
Chapter Goals
After completing this chapter, you should be
able to:
 Develop and implement basic forecasting models
 Identify the components present in a time series
 Use smoothing-based forecasting models, including
moving average and exponential smoothing
 Apply trend-based forecasting models, including linear
trend and nonlinear trend
 complete time-series forecasting of seasonal data
 compute and interpret basic index numbers

The Importance of Forecasting
 Governments forecast unemployment, interest
rates, and expected revenues from income taxes
for policy purposes
 Marketing executives forecast demand, sales, and
consumer preferences for strategic planning
 College administrators forecast enrollments to plan
for facilities and for faculty recruitment
 Retail stores forecast demand to control inventory
levels, hire employees and provide training

Time-Series Data
 Numerical data obtained at regular time
intervals
 The time intervals can be annually, quarterly,
daily, hourly, etc.
 Example:
Year: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Sales: 75.3 74.2 78.5 79.7 80.2

Time-Series Plot
 the vertical axis
measures the variable
of interest
 the horizontal axis
corresponds to the
time periods
U.S. Inflation Rate
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
Year
InflationRate(%)
A time-series plot is a two-dimensional
plot of time series data

Time-Series Components
Time Series
Cyclical
Component
Irregular
Component
Trend
Component
Seasonal
Component

Upward trend
Trend Component
 Long-run increase or decrease over time
(overall upward or downward movement)
 Data taken over a long period of time
Sales
Time

Downward linear trend
Trend Component
 Trend can be upward or downward
 Trend can be linear or non-linear
Sales
Time
Upward nonlinear trend
Sales
Time
(continued)

Seasonal Component
 Short-term regular wave-like patterns
 Observed within 1 year
 Often monthly or quarterly
Sales
Time (Quarterly)
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Cyclical Component
 Long-term wave-like patterns
 Regularly occur but may vary in length
 Often measured peak to peak or trough to
trough
Sales
1 Cycle
Year

Irregular Component
 Unpredictable, random, “residual” fluctuations
 Due to random variations of
 Nature
 Accidents or unusual events
 “Noise” in the time series

Multiplicative Time-Series Model
for Annual Data
 Used primarily for forecasting
 Observed value in time series is the product of
components
where Ti = Trend value at year i
Ci = Cyclical value at year i
Ii = Irregular (random) value at year i
iiii ICTY ××=

Multiplicative Time-Series Model
with a Seasonal Component
 Used primarily for forecasting
 Allows consideration of seasonal variation
where Ti = Trend value at time i
Si = Seasonal value at time i
Ci = Cyclical value at time i
Ii = Irregular (random) value at time i
iiiii ICSTY ×××=

Smoothing the
Annual Time Series
 Calculate moving averages to get an overall
impression of the pattern of movement over
time
Moving Average: averages of consecutive
time series values for a
chosen period of length L

Moving Averages
 Used for smoothing
 A series of arithmetic means over time
 Result dependent upon choice of L (length of
period for computing means)
 Examples:
 For a 5 year moving average, L = 5
 For a 7 year moving average, L = 7
 Etc.

Moving Averages
 Example: Five-year moving average
 First average:
 Second average:
 etc.
(continued)
5
YYYYY
MA(5) 54321 ++++
=
5
YYYYY
MA(5) 65432 ++++
=

Example: Annual Data
Year Sales
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
etc…
23
40
25
27
32
48
33
37
37
50
40
etc…
Annual Sales
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Year
Sales
…
…

Calculating Moving Averages
 Each moving average is for a
consecutive block of 5 years
Year Sales
1 23
2 40
3 25
4 27
5 32
6 48
7 33
8 37
9 37
10 50
11 40
Average
Year
5-Year
Moving
Average
3 29.4
4 34.4
5 33.0
6 35.4
7 37.4
8 41.0
9 39.4
… …
5
54321
3
++++
=
5
3227254023
29.4
++++
=
etc…

Annual vs. 5-Year Moving Average
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Year
Sales
Annual 5-Year Moving Average
Annual vs. Moving Average
 The 5-year
moving average
smoothes the
data and shows
the underlying
trend

Exponential Smoothing
 A weighted moving average
 Weights decline exponentially
 Most recent observation weighted most
 Used for smoothing and short term
forecasting (often one period into the future)

Exponential Smoothing
 The weight (smoothing coefficient) is W
 Subjectively chosen
 Range from 0 to 1
 Smaller W gives more smoothing, larger W gives
less smoothing
 The weight is:
 Close to 0 for smoothing out unwanted cyclical
and irregular components
 Close to 1 for forecasting
(continued)

Exponential Smoothing Model
 Exponential smoothing model
11 YE =
1iii E)W1(WYE −−+=
where:
Ei = exponentially smoothed value for period i
Ei-1 = exponentially smoothed value already
computed for period i - 1
Yi = observed value in period i
W = weight (smoothing coefficient), 0 < W < 1
For i = 2, 3, 4, …

Exponential Smoothing Example
 Suppose we use weight W = .2
Time
Period
(i)
Sales
(Yi)
Forecast
from prior
period (Ei-1)
Exponentially Smoothed
Value for this period (Ei)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
etc.
23
40
25
27
32
48
33
37
37
50
etc.
--
23
26.4
26.12
26.296
27.437
31.549
31.840
32.872
33.697
etc.
23
(.2)(40)+(.8)(23)=26.4
(.2)(25)+(.8)(26.4)=26.12
(.2)(27)+(.8)(26.12)=26.296
(.2)(32)+(.8)(26.296)=27.437
(.2)(48)+(.8)(27.437)=31.549
(.2)(48)+(.8)(31.549)=31.840
(.2)(33)+(.8)(31.840)=32.872
(.2)(37)+(.8)(32.872)=33.697
(.2)(50)+(.8)(33.697)=36.958
etc.
1ii
i
E)W1(WY
E
−−+
=
E1 = Y1
since no
prior
information
exists

Sales vs. Smoothed Sales
 Fluctuations
have been
smoothed
 NOTE: the
smoothed value in
this case is
generally a little low,
since the trend is
upward sloping and
the weighting factor
is only .2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time Period
Sales
Sales Smoothed

Forecasting Time Period i + 1
 The smoothed value in the current
period (i) is used as the forecast value for
next period (i + 1) :
i1i EYˆ =+

Exponential Smoothing in Excel
 Use tools / data analysis /
exponential smoothing
 The “damping factor” is (1 - W)

Trend-Based Forecasting
 Estimate a trend line using regression analysis
Year
Time
Period
(X)
Sales
(Y)
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
0
1
2
3
4
5
20
40
30
50
70
65
XbbYˆ
10 +=
 Use time (X) as the
independent variable:

 The linear trend forecasting equation is:
Sales trend
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Year
sales
Year
Time
Period
(X)
Sales
(Y)
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
0
1
2
3
4
5
20
40
30
50
70
65
ii X9.571421.905Yˆ +=
(continued)

 Forecast for time period 6:
Year
Time
Period
(X)
Sales
(y)
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
20
40
30
50
70
65
??
(continued)
Sales trend
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Year
sales
79.33
(6)9.571421.905Yˆ
=
+=

Nonlinear Trend Forecasting
 A nonlinear regression model can be used when
the time series exhibits a nonlinear trend
 Quadratic form is one type of a nonlinear model:
 Compare adj. r2
and standard error to that of
linear model to see if this is an improvement
 Can try other functional forms to get best fit
i
2
i2i10i XXY ε+β+β+β=

Exponential Trend Model
 Another nonlinear trend model:
 Transform to linear form:
i
X
10i εββY i
=
)εlog()log(βX)βlog()log(Y i1i0i ++=

Exponential Trend Model
 Exponential trend forecasting equation:
i10i Xbb)Yˆlog( +=
where b0 = estimate of log(β0)
b1 = estimate of log(β1)
(continued)
Interpretation:
%100)1βˆ( 1 ×− is the estimated annual compound
growth rate (in %)

Model Selection Using
Differences
 Use a linear trend model if the first differences
are approximately constant
 Use a quadratic trend model if the second
differences are approximately constant
)YY()YY()Y(Y 1-nn2312 −==−=− 
)]YY()Y[(Y
)]YY()Y[(Y)]YY()Y[(Y
2-n1-n1-nn
23341223
−−−==
−−−=−−−


 Use an exponential trend model if the
percentage differences are approximately
constant
(continued)
Model Selection Using
Differences
%100
Y
)Y(Y
%100
Y
)Y(Y
%100
Y
)Y(Y
1-n
1-nn
2
23
1
12
×
−
==×
−
=×
−


ip-ip2-i21-i10i δYAYAYAAY ++++++= 
Autoregressive Modeling
 Used for forecasting
 Takes advantage of autocorrelation
 1st order - correlation between consecutive values
 2nd order - correlation between values 2 periods
apart
 pth
order Autoregressive models:
Random
Error

Autoregressive Model:
Example
Year Units
97 4
98 3
99 2
00 3
01 2
02 2
03 4
04 6
The Office Concept Corp. has acquired a number of office
units (in thousands of square feet) over the last eight years.
Develop the second order Autoregressive model.

Autoregressive Model:
Example Solution
Year Yi Yi-1 Yi-2
97 4 -- --
98 3 4 --
99 2 3 4
00 3 2 3
01 2 3 2
02 2 2 3
03 4 2 2
04 6 4 2
Coefficients
Intercept 3.5
X Variable 1 0.8125
X Variable 2 -0.9375
Excel Output
 Develop the 2nd order
table
 Use Excel to estimate a
regression model
2i1ii 0.9375Y0.8125Y3.5Yˆ
−− −+=

Autoregressive Model
Example: Forecasting
Use the second-order equation to forecast
number of units for 2005:
625.4
)0.9375(4)0.8125(63.5
)0.9375(Y)0.8125(Y3.5Yˆ
0.9375Y0.8125Y3.5Yˆ
200320042005
2i1ii
=
−+=
−+=
−+= −−

Autoregressive Modeling Steps
1. Choose p (note that df = n – 2p – 1)
2. Form a series of “lagged predictor” variables
Yi-1 , Yi-2 , … ,Yi-p
3. Use Excel to run regression model using all p
variables
4. Test significance of Ap
 If null hypothesis rejected, this model is selected
 If null hypothesis not rejected, decrease p by 1 and
repeat

Selecting A Forecasting Model
 Perform a residual analysis
 Look for pattern or direction
 Measure magnitude of residual error using
squared differences
 Measure residual error using MAD
 Use simplest model
 Principle of parsimony

Residual Analysis
Random errors
Trend not accounted for
Cyclical effects not accounted for
Seasonal effects not accounted for
T T
T T
e e
e e
0 0
0 0

Measuring Errors
 Choose the model that gives the smallest
measuring errors
 Mean Absolute Deviation
(MAD)
 Not sensitive to extreme
observations
 Sum of squared errors
(SSE)
 Sensitive to outliers
∑=
−=
n
1i
2
ii )Yˆ(YSSE
n
YˆY
MAD
n
1i
ii∑=
−
=

Principal of Parsimony
 Suppose two or more models provide a
good fit for the data
 Select the simplest model
 Simplest model types:

Least-squares linear

Least-squares quadratic

1st order autoregressive
 More complex types:

2nd and 3rd order autoregressive

Least-squares exponential

 Recall the classical time series model with
seasonal variation:
 Suppose the seasonality is quarterly
 Define three new dummy variables for quarters:
Q1 = 1 if first quarter, 0 otherwise
Q2 = 1 if second quarter, 0 otherwise
Q3 = 1 if third quarter, 0 otherwise
(Quarter 4 is the default if Q1 = Q2 = Q3 = 0)
iiiii ICSTY ×××=
Forecasting With Seasonal Data

Exponential Model with
Quarterly Data
 Transform to linear form:
i
Q
4
Q
3
Q
2
X
10i εβββββY 321i
=
)εlog()log(βQ)log(βQ
)log(βQ)log(βX)βlog()log(Y
i4332
211i0i
+++
++=
βi provides the multiplier for the ith
quarter relative
to the 4th quarter (i = 2, 3, 4)

Estimating the Quarterly Model
 Exponential forecasting equation:
342312i10i QbQbQbXbb)Yˆlog( ++++=
where b0 = estimate of log(β0), so
b1 = estimate of log(β1), so
etc…
Interpretation:
%100)1βˆ( 1 ×− = estimated quarterly compound growth rate (in %)
= estimated multiplier for first quarter relative to fourth quarter
= estimated multiplier for second quarter rel. to fourth quarter
= estimated multiplier for third quarter relative to fourth
quarter
0
b
βˆ10 0
=
1
b
βˆ10 1
=
2βˆ
3βˆ
4βˆ

Quarterly Model Example
 Suppose the forecasting equation is:
321ii .022Q.073QQ082..017X3.43)Yˆlog( +−−+=
b0 = 3.43, so
b1 = .017, so
b2 = -.082, so
b3 = -.073, so
b4 = .022, so
53.2691βˆ10 0
b0
==
040.1βˆ10 1
b1
==
827.0βˆ10 2
b2
==
845.0βˆ10 3
b3
==
052.1βˆ10 4
b4
==

Quarterly Model Example
Interpretation:
53.2691βˆ
0 =
040.1βˆ
1 =
827.0βˆ
2 =
845.0βˆ
3 =
052.1βˆ
4 =
Unadjusted trend value for first quarter of first year
4.0% = estimated quarterly compound growth rate
Ave. sales in Q2 are 82.7% of average 4th
quarter sales,
after adjusting for the 4% quarterly growth rate
quarter sales,
after adjusting for the 4% quarterly growth rate
quarter
sales, after adjusting for the 4% quarterly growth rate
Value:
(continued)

Index Numbers
 Index numbers allow relative comparisons
over time
 Index numbers are reported relative to a Base
Period Index
 Base period index = 100 by definition
 Used for an individual item or measurement

Simple Price Index
 Simple Price Index:
100
P
P
I
base
i
i ×=
where
Ii = index number for year i
Pi = price for year i
Pbase = price for the base year

Index Numbers: Example
 Airplane ticket prices from 1995 to 2003:
90)100(
320
288
100
P
P
I
2000
1996
1996 ==×=
Year Price
Index
(base year
= 2000)
1995 272 85.0
1996 288 90.0
1997 295 92.2
1998 311 97.2
1999 322 100.6
2000 320 100.0
2001 348 108.8
2002 366 114.4
2003 384 120.0
100)100(
320
320
100
P
P
I
2000
2000
2000 ==×=
120)100(
320
384
100
P
P
I
2000
2003
2003 ==×=
Base Year:

 Prices in 1996 were 90%
of base year prices
of base year prices (by
definition, since 2000 is the
base year)
of base year prices
Index Numbers: Interpretation
90)100(
320
288
100
P
P
I
2000
1996
1996 ==×=
100)100(
320
320
100
P
P
I
2000
2000
2000 ==×=
120)100(
320
384
100
P
P
I
2000
2003
2003 ==×=

Aggregate Price Indexes
 An aggregate index is used to measure the rate
of change from a base period for a group of items
Aggregate
Price Indexes
Unweighted
aggregate
price index
Weighted
aggregate
price indexes
Paasche Index Laspeyres Index

Unweighted
Aggregate Price Index
 Unweighted aggregate price index formula:
100
P
P
I n
1i
)0(
i
n
1i
)t(
i
)t(
U ×=
∑
∑
=
=
= unweighted price index at time t
= sum of the prices for the group of items at time t
= sum of the prices for the group of items in time period 0∑
∑
=
=
n
1i
)0(
i
n
1i
)t(
i
)t(
U
P
P
I
i = item
t = time period
n = total number of items

 Unweighted total expenses were 18.8%
higher in 2004 than in 2001
Automobile Expenses:
Monthly Amounts ($):
Year Lease payment Fuel Repair Total
Index
(2001=100)
2001 260 45 40 345 100.0
2002 280 60 40 380 110.1
2003 305 55 45 405 117.4
2004 310 50 50 410 118.8
Unweighted Aggregate Price
Index: Example
118.8(100)
345
410
100
P
P
I
2001
2004
2004 ==×=
∑
∑

Weighted
Aggregate Price Indexes
 Paasche index
100
QP
QP
I n
1i
)t(
i
)0(
i
n
1i
)t(
i
)t(
i
)t(
P ×=
∑
∑
=
=
: weights based on : weights based on current
period 0 quantities period quantities
= price in time period t
= price in period 0
100
QP
QP
I n
1i
)0(
i
)0(
i
n
1i
)0(
i
)t(
i
)t(
L ×=
∑
∑
=
=
 Laspeyres index
)0(
iQ )t(
iQ
)t(
iP
)0(
iP

Common Price Indexes
 Consumer Price Index (CPI)
 Producer Price Index (PPI)
 Stock Market Indexes
 Dow Jones Industrial Average
 S&P 500 Index
 NASDAQ Index

Pitfalls in
Time-Series Analysis
 Assuming the mechanism that governs the time
series behavior in the past will still hold in the
future
 Using mechanical extrapolation of the trend to
forecast the future without considering personal
judgments, business experiences, changing
technologies, and habits, etc.

Chapter Summary
 Discussed the importance of forecasting
 Addressed component factors of the time-series
model
 Performed smoothing of data series
 Moving averages
 Exponential smoothing
 Described least square trend fitting and
forecasting
 Linear, quadratic and exponential models

Chapter Summary
 Addressed autoregressive models
 Described procedure for choosing appropriate
models
 Addressed time series forecasting of monthly or
quarterly data (use of dummy variables)
 Discussed pitfalls concerning time-series
analysis
(continued)

Time Series Forecasting and Index Numbers

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