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  lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   APPLIED STATISTICS  COURSE CODE: ENEE1006IU  Lecture 14: 
Chapter 8: Time series analysis and  forecasting 
(3 credits: 2 is for lecture, 1 is for lab-work)          1      lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
CHAPTER 8: TIME SERIES ANALYSIS AND FORECASTING  •8.1. Time series patterns  •8.2. Forecast accuracy  •8.3. Trend projection 
•8.4. Time series decomposition    2    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   8.1. TIME SERIES PATTERNS 
•A time series is a sequence of observations on a variable measured at successive 
points in time or over successive periods of time. 
•The pattern of the data is an important factor in 
understanding how the time series has behaved in  the past. 
•To identify the underlying pattern in the data, a 
useful first step is to construct a time series plot. 
•A time series plot is a graphical presentation of the 
relationship between time and the time series 
variable; time is on the horizontal axis and the time 
series values are shown on the vertical axis.  3    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   8.1. TIME SERIES PATTERNS  4    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
•Horizontal Pattern: a horizontal pattern exists when the data fluctuate around  a constant mean 
•Trend Pattern: a trend is usually the result of long-term factors; gradual 
shifts or movements to relatively higher or lower values over a longer period  of time 
•Seasonal Pattern: Seasonal patterns are recognized by seeing the same 
repeating patterns over successive periods of time  5    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   8.1. TIME SERIES PATTERNS 
•Trend and Seasonal Pattern: in such 
cases we need to use a forecasting 
method that has the capability to deal 
with both trend and seasonality 
•Cyclical Pattern: a cyclical pattern exists 
if the time series plot shows an 
alternating sequence of points below 
and above the trend line lasting more 
than one year. cyclical effects are often  6    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
combined with long-term trend effects and referred to as trend-cycle effects  8.2. FORECAST ACCURACY  •Principles of Forecasting: 
Many types of forecasting models that differ in complexity and amount of data &  way they generate forecasts: 
1. Forecasts are rarely perfect 
2. Forecasts are more accurate for grouped data than for individual items 
3. Forecast are more accurate for shorter than longer time periods    7    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   TYPES OF FORECASTING METHODS 
•Decide what needs to be forecast 
 Level of detail, units of analysis & time horizon required 
•Evaluate and analyze appropriate data 
 Identify needed data & whether it’s available 
•Select and test the forecasting model 
 Cost, ease of use & accuracy  •Generate the forecast 
•Monitor forecast accuracy over time  TYPES OF FORECASTING METHODS 
•Forecasting methods are classified into two groups:  8    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
•Qualitative methods – judgmental  methods    Forecasts  generated  subjectively  by  the  forecaster   Educated guesses  •Quantitative methods –  based on mathematical  modeling   Forecasts generated  through mathematical  modeling  QUANTITATIVE METHODS  •Time Series Models:  9    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
 Assumes information needed to generate a forecast is contained in a time series of data 
 Assumes the future will follow same patterns as the past 
•Causal Models or Associative Models: 
 Explores cause-and-effect relationships 
 Uses leading indicators to predict the future 
 Housing starts and appliance sales  TIME SERIES MODELS 
•Forecaster looks for data patterns as 
 Data = historic pattern + random variation 
•Historic pattern to be forecasted: 
 Level (long-term average) – data fluctuates around a constant mean 
 Trend – data exhibits an increasing or decreasing pattern  10    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
 Seasonality – any pattern that regularly repeats itself and is of a constant length 
 Cycle – patterns created by economic fluctuations 
•Random Variation cannot be predicted  TIME SERIES MODELS  •Naive:  Ft 1 At 
 The forecast is equal to the actual value observed during the last period – good  for level patterns  •Simple Mean:  Ft 1  At /n 
 The average of all available data - good for level patterns  11    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   •Moving Average:  Ft 1  At /n 
 The average value over a set time period  (e.g.: the last four weeks) 
 Each new forecast drops the oldest data point & adds a new observation 
 More responsive to a trend but still lags behind actual data  TIME SERIES MODELS 
•Weighted Moving Average: Ft 1  CtAt 
•All weights must add to 100% or 1.00 
e.g. Ct =0.5, Ct-1 =0.3, Ct-2 =0.2 (weights add to 1.0)  12    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
•Allows emphasizing one period over others; above indicates more weight on  recent data (Ct=0.5) 
•Differs from the simple moving average that weighs all periods equally more  responsive to trends  TIME SERIES MODELS  •Exponential Smoothing:  Ft 1 αAt  1 α Ft 
Most frequently used time series method because of ease of use and minimal  amount of data needed 
•Need just three pieces of data to start: 
 Last period’s forecast (Ft)  13    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860  
 Last periods actual value (At) 
 Select value of smoothing coefficient, α,between 0 and 1.0 
•If no last period forecast is available, average the last few periods or use naive  method 
•Higher α values (e.g. 0.7 or 0.8) may place too much weight on last period’s  random variation  MEASURING FORECAST ERROR 
•Forecasts are never perfect 
•Need to know how much we should rely on our chosen forecasting method  •Measuring forecast error:  14    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   Et At Ft 
•Note that over-forecasts = negative errors and under-forecasts = positive  errors 
MEASURING FORECASTING ACCURACY 
•Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD)  •Mean Square Error (MSE) 
 measures the total error in a forecast   Penalizes larger errors  without regard to sign  •Tracking Signal 
•Cumulative Forecast Error (CFE)   Measures if your model 
 Measures any bias in the forecast  is working  MAD actual forecast n  15    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   CFE actual forecast  MSE  n  actual - forecast 2  TS  CFE MAD  16    lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860                       17      lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   18        lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   19        lOMoAR cPSD| 45903860   HOMEWORKS (1)  Note: Each table  for each method 
Compute the forecasts and measures of forecast accuracy, using:  20