Files
Abstract
The question addressed in this study is which length of historical moving average provides
the best forecast of futures basis. Differences in observed forecast accuracy among the
different moving averages are usually less than a cent per bushel, and most are not
statistically significant. Further, the search for an optimal length of moving average may
be futile since the optimal length depends on how much structural change has occurred.
Our recommendation is to use moving averages when there has been no structural change
and to use last year’s basis or an alternative approach if the forecaster perceives that a
structural change has occurred.