Excel FORECAST Function click here to read tutorial

The FORECAST function uses the least squares or linear regression method to forecast future values. For exam
sales, stock requirements, trends etc.

In Excel 2016 this function has been replaced by FORECAST.LINEAR as part of the new library of forecasting f

Syntax: =FORECAST(x, known_y's, known_x's)

x this is the next data point that you want to forecast. E.g. it might be a date, or period number
known_y's the range of cells containing your historical values you're basing your forecast on
known_x's the range of cells containing the periods you already know

Notes:
- All arguments are required and the known y's and x's must contain the same number of data points.
- x must be a numeric value, otherwise the #VALUE! Error will be returned.
- the #DIV/0! Error will be returned if the variance of known_x's equals zero.

Year Month Sales FORECAST

2017 Jan 671,160 Sales Foreca
Feb 635,558
1,000,000
Mar 721,915
Apr 643,960 800,000

May 643,786 600,000

Jun 724,012
Jul 773,626 400,000

Aug 735,758 200,000

Sep 611,256
0
Oct 650,638
42736

42767

42795

42826

42856

42887

42917

42948

42979
Nov 630,391
Dec 754,282 754,282 2017

2018 Jan 694,843

Sales FOR
Feb 696,688
Mar 698,355 Formula in cell E34: =FORECAST(C34,$C$5:$C$16
Apr 700,200
Note that the known_x and known_y ranges are a
May 701,986 relative.
Jun 703,831
 cast future values. For example,

new library of forecasting functions.

ate, or period number

ber of data points.

Sales Forecast
42826

42856

42887

42917

42948

42979

43009

43040

43070

43101

43132

43160

43191

43221

43252

2017 2018

Sales FORECAST

ORECAST(C34,$C$5:$C$16,$B$5:$B$16)

and known_y ranges are absolute, but the x argument is

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Year Month Sales FORECAST
2017 Jan 8,638
Feb 3,735
Mar 28
Apr 96
May 50
Jun 69
Jul 136
Aug 100
Sep 672
Oct 930
Nov 372
Dec 502 502
2018 Jan -1,221
Feb -1,612
Mar -1,964
Apr -2,354
May -2,732
Jun -3,122