Interpret the key results for Moving Average

Complete the following steps to interpret a moving average analysis. Key output includes the moving average plot, the accuracy measures, and the forecasts.

In This Topic

Step 1: Determine whether the model fits your data
Step 2: Compare the fit of your model to other models
Step 3: Determine whether the forecasts are accurate

Step 1: Determine whether the model fits your data

Examine the smoothing plot to determine whether your model fits your data. If the fits closely follow the actual data, the model fits your data.

If the model fits the data, you can perform Single Exponential Smoothing and compare the two models.
If the model does not fit the data, examine the plot for trends or seasonality. If you see evidence of a trend or seasonality, you should use a different time series analysis. For more information, go to Which time series analysis should I use?.

On this smoothing plot, the fits closely follow the data, which indicates that the model fits the data.

Step 2: Compare the fit of your model to other models

Use the accuracy measures (MAPE, MAD, and MSD) to compare the fit of your model to other time series models. These statistics are not very informative by themselves, but you can use them to compare the fits obtained by using different methods. For all 3 statistics, smaller values usually indicate a better fitting model. If a single model does not have the lowest values for all 3 statistics, MAPE is usually the preferred measurement.

Note

The accuracy measures provide an indication of the accuracy you might expect when you forecast out 1 period from the end of the data. Therefore, they do not indicate the accuracy of forecasting out more than 1 period. If you're using the model for forecasting, you shouldn't base your decision solely on accuracy measures. You should also examine the fit of the model to ensure that the forecasts and the model follow the data closely, especially at the end of the series.

Model 1

Accuracy Measures

MAPE	7.265
MAD	16.621
MSD	518.119

Model 2

Accuracy Measures

MAPE	2.474
MAD	9.462
MSD	135.701

Key Results: MAPE, MAD, MSD

In these results, all three numbers are lower for the 2^nd model compared to the 1^st model. Therefore, the 2^nd model provides the better fit.

Step 3: Determine whether the forecasts are accurate

Examine the fits and the forecasts in the plot to determine whether the forecasts are likely to be accurate. The forecasts should generally follow the data at the end of the series. If the fits shift away from the data at the end of the series, the forecasts may not be accurate. Because the forecasts from moving average are constant, it is important that there is no trend in the data before the forecasts. If there is a trend before the forecasts, the forecasts may not be accurate.

The forecasts from moving average are very conservative because they are based solely on the latest estimate of the level, and no estimate of the trend. You should usually only forecast 6 periods into the future.

On this smoothing plot, the fits closely follow the data, especially at the end of the series. You can expect sales to be around 58 for the next 6 months with a range of approximately 52 and 65.