Finding Data
In this example, we are using three time series on Germany: Retail Trade, Consumer expectations and a recession indicator.
Therefore, we will use the “Country & Region” view.
To find the Retail Trade series, go to:
Country & Region > Germany > Trade > Domestic Trade > Retail Trade > Constant Prices
Locate and select the following series, which has an exclamation mark:
- Retail Trade, Except Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles
Add the series to a new document.
To find the Consumer expectations series, go to:
Country & Region > Germany > Surveys & Leading Indicators > Consumer Surveys > GfK > Consumer Climate
Locate and select:
- Economic Expectations
Add it to the document you just created.
To find the recession indicator, go to:
Country & Region > Germany > Surveys & Leading Indicators > Leading Indicators > Macrobond
Locate and select:
- Business Cycle Reference Dates
Add it to the document.
Analysis
Rate of change
- Select “Time chart” in the tree
- Click the “Insert” button
- Select Rate of Change
In the analysis tree, go to Rate of Change, and apply these settings for the Retail Trade series only
- “Method” is set to Change over period %
- “Length” is set to Year and specified to be 1 year
Smoothing
By looking at the Time chart, you can notice that the Retail Trade is difficult to read as it fluctuates a lot. You can smooth it by calculating a 1 year moving average.
- Select “Time chart” in the tree
- Click the “Insert” button
- Select Smoothing
In the analysis tree, go to Smoothing, and apply these settings for the Retail Trade & the Consumer Expectations series (for harmonization purposes):
- Click on the “Add” button for the first series
- Select “Moving average”
- Set the length to “1 year”
- Apply the same settings for the Consumer Expectations series.
Charting
Alternate Scale
The Consumer Expectation series has been displayed on an alternate scale.
Graph Layout
The recession indicator has either the value 1 or value 0, with value 1 indicating a recession. Instead of displaying it as a line, you should represent it as a Fill, so that it highlights the recession period in the chart.
- Go to Graph Layout
- Select the recession indicator under the tab “Graph” (RHS)
- Click on “Fill”
Make sure the order is set so that the “Fill” graph is listed above the “Line” graph.
Adding transparency to the "fill" series
You should add transparency to the recession indicator. To do so:
- Click on the series to activate its properties in the Presentation Tab
- Go to the tab "Appearance", and choose "Custom" as graph style
- Click on the "…" button close to the color section
- In the new window, set opacity to 30%
Other changes
The following changes have also been applied to the document:
- Title
- Subtitle
- Horizontal line to 0