The Problem of Business Forecasting : Papers Presented at the Eighty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the American Statistical Association, Washington, December 27-29, 1923 (Classic Reprint)

Explore the science of forecasting business with a classic collection of expert analyses. This volume gathers papers from the 1923 American Statistical Association meeting to explain how economists read cycles, production signals, and price trends to anticipate the next move in the economy.

The book presents historical perspectives on cyclical movements in a competitive economy and offers methods readers can study to improve forecasting. It frames the uncertainties of predicting business activity and shows how data from production, prices, and inventories can inform judgment about future trends.

• Foundations of business forecasting and why cycles matter.


• How production and price signals interact during upswings and downturns.


• Practical approaches researchers used to interpret economic indicators in the early 20th century.


• Examples of data interpretation that influenced policy and industry decisions.

Ideal for readers of economics, statistics, and business forecasting seeking historical context and practical insight into forecasting challenges.