Forecasting is the foundational process of predicting future economic conditions and business outcomes by analyzing historical and current data. Often described as a blend of "art" and science, effective forecasting requires balancing mathematical models with qualitative insights and economic theory. The Core Pillars of Economic Forecasting

Training set (e.g., first 80% of observations) for model building. Test set (last 20%) for validation.

Quantitative methods rely on historical data, identifying patterns such as trends, seasonality, and cycles.

There are several types of forecasting models used in economics and business, including: