Which of the following is a quantitative forecasting method?

• A. Delphi method
• B. Time series analysis
• C. Market research
• D. Panel consensus

Answer: (B)

Quantitative forecasting relies on numerical data and mathematical models to predict future outcomes. Time series analysis fits this well because it uses historical, time-stamped data and applies statistical techniques to uncover patterns such as trend and seasonality, then projects them forward into forecasts. For example, using past monthly sales figures to build a moving average or ARIMA model yields a numerical forecast for the next period. The other options involve qualitative judgment or data collection rather than strictly mathematical forecasting: the Delphi method and panel consensus use expert opinions to reach a conclusion, and market research is a broad data-gathering activity that can be qualitative or quantitative but isn’t itself a forecasting method.