Comparison of Several Univariate Time Series Methods for Inflation Rate Forecasting

Abstract

Forecasting inflation is very crucial for a country because inflation is one of indicator to measure development of the country. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of three univariate time series methods i.e., ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average), Double Exponential Smoothing (DES), and Trend Projection (TP), in forecasting Indonesia’s monthly inflation rates using data from 2018 to 2022. The analysis identifies DES as the most accurate method, evidenced by its lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) value of 2.9296, outperforming ARIMA and TP, which have RMSE values of 13.1479 and 3.47053, respectively. Consequently, DES was selected as the preferred model for forecasting inflation over the next 36 month, with the forecasts indicating a consistent downward trend in inflation throughout the year. While these findings highlight DES's effectiveness, the study also acknowledges limitations, including its reliance on univariate models that do not incorporate other economic variables, and the potential limitations of the dataset’s specific time frame. To address these limitations, future research should consider multivariate models, integrate machine learning techniques, and conduct scenario analyses to improve forecast accuracy and robustness. Despite these constraints, the study provides valuable insights into inflation forecasting in Indonesia, offering a practical tool for policymakers and contributing to more informed economic decision-making.