Statistical forecasting is used for forecasting which of the following?

• A. Only sales
• B. Only budget
• C. Sales and budget
• D. Neither

Answer: (C)

Forecasting relies on patterns in past data to predict what will happen next. In business, those predictions are used to estimate how much will be sold (sales) and what revenue will be available to fund operations (the budget). The sales forecast provides the expected income, and that same information feeds the budget so you can plan expenses, resources, and investments accordingly. Because statistical forecasting supports both revenue projections and the financial plan that uses those projections, it applies to both sales and budget. Focusing on only one ignores the way forecasts inform total planning, and claiming neither would leave planning unguided.