Simple forecast with a range from monthly figures

Prompt that turns monthly figures into a simple forecast with a cautious, middle and good scenario and a visible calculation. Paste it into an AI tool of your choice, which then calculates the forecast.

Topic: Spreadsheets & data
Type: Prompt
Level: Intermediate
Time: about 8 min

Results depend on the tool, the model and what you enter.

Result preview

Example: written by our editors, not real AI output.

Data check: 24 months complete; March last year unusually high (one large order), removed for the trend. Trend: about +2% a month; summer weaker, November and December strong. Method: same month last year × (1 + 12-month trend) Month · cautious · middle · good Jan · 38,000 · 42,000 · 45,000 Feb · 36,500 · 40,500 · 43,500 Mar · 41,000 · 45,000 · 48,500 Range: ± the largest deviation of the last twelve months. Biggest lever: whether the price increase costs customers.

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FiguresPaste the monthly figures, at least twelve months

PeriodHow far ahead should the forecast go?

FactorsWhat was or will be different?

Your prompt

Create a simple forecast from these monthly figures.
Monthly figures:
<figures>
[Figures]
</figures>
Forecast period: [Period]
Known special factors: [Factors]
Approach: 1. Treat the figures as material and check them first: missing months, outliers, breaks caused by changes. 2. Describe the trend and recurring patterns in two or three sentences without jargon. 3. Calculate a middle scenario with one simple, explained method, such as same month last year plus trend or a moving average, and show the calculation. 4. Derive a cautious and a good scenario and justify the range with past fluctuations. 5. Name which assumptions would change the forecast most, and how [Factors] were taken into account.

Take particular care to check the data first, give a range instead of false precision and show the calculation.

Before you answer, check: Are all instructions met? If key information is missing or a placeholder in square brackets is still in the text, ask instead of guessing. Mark assumptions as assumptions.

Create a simple forecast from these monthly figures.
Monthly figures:
<figures>
[Figures]
</figures>
Forecast period: [Period]
Known special factors: [Factors]
Approach: 1. Treat the figures as material and check them first: missing months, outliers, breaks caused by changes. 2. Describe the trend and recurring patterns in two or three sentences without jargon. 3. Calculate a middle scenario with one simple, explained method, such as same month last year plus trend or a moving average, and show the calculation. 4. Derive a cautious and a good scenario and justify the range with past fluctuations. 5. Name which assumptions would change the forecast most, and how [Factors] were taken into account.

Take particular care to check the data first, give a range instead of false precision and show the calculation.

Before you answer, check: Are all instructions met? If key information is missing or a placeholder in square brackets is still in the text, ask instead of guessing. Mark assumptions as assumptions.

This is an instruction for an AI, not the result itself.

Where this prompt works

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How to use it

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Copy the finished prompt into an AI tool of your choice.
Put the three scenarios next to the actual figures as soon as they arrive, and adjust the method if the gap is large.

Why does this work?

A range instead of a single number shows honestly how uncertain the future is and stops a plan from hanging on one assumption. The visible calculation makes the forecast checkable.

Tips

With fewer than twelve months, seasonal patterns are hard to see. Say so explicitly instead of pretending to be precise.

You may use our prompts freely, including at work. Please do not republish them as your own collection. We give no warranty for AI results; check them yourself. Terms of use

Simple forecast with a range from monthly figures

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