Forecasting Monthly Expenditures Using Normal Distribution in Excel

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around forecasting future monthly expenditures for a construction project using a normal distribution model in Excel. The user provides historical expenditure data from July 2008 to June 2009 and seeks advice on predicting future costs from July 2009 onwards. A participant questions the normal distribution of the provided costs, suggesting that a linear regression approach may be more appropriate. There is also a hint that the inquiry might be related to homework. The conversation emphasizes the need for suitable statistical methods for accurate forecasting.
physics911
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Hi, everyone,

I have a quick question for normal distribution in Excel.

There's a construction project with the following monthly expenditures:

JUL 2008 $ 4,903
AUG 2008 $ 3,591
SEP 2008 $ 15,452
OCT 2008 $ 12,806
NOV 2008 $ 59,988
DEC 2008 $ 121,808
JAN 2009 $ 261,162
FEB 2009 $ 264,769
MAR 2009 $ 306,240
APR 2009 $ 438,695
MAY 2009 $ 397,569
JUN 2009 $ 345,190


The project's allocated amount is $12 million and the time period is from July 2008 to December 2010. Is there anyway I can forecast future monthly expenditures (from July 2009 & onwards) based on normal distribution model using Excel 2003?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Physics911
 
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Do those costs look normally distrubuted to you?

I think you'd do better to approach it from a linear regression point of view.BTW. This looks like homework. Is it?
 
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