Series are named sequentially arranged in chronological order the statistical data showing the development of the phenomenon under study in time.
In each series there are two main elements:
the time t, which can be presented in the form of specific dates (moments) of time or separate periods (year, quarter, month, day);
the levels of development of the studied phenomena, – reflect the quantification (measure) development in time of the phenomenon under study. They may be absolute, relative or average values.
Depending on the nature of the phenomenon under study, the levels of the series may or certain dates (moments) of time, or to different periods.
In line with this, the series is divided into:
state series indicate the state of events on certain dates (moments) of time, for example, remains of goods at the warehouse at a specific point in time (date);
interval series show the results of development (functioning) of the studied phenomena over different periods (intervals) of time, for example the turnover of the enterprise for a certain period. The larger the variability of the phenomenon in time, the smaller should be the period of time between data.
A distinctive feature of the torque and interval time series is the notion of interval. For instantaneous time series dynamics of interval – time between dates.
In addition, the time series can be:
the full series is a series in which the eponymous time points or periods of time follow one after the other in calendar order, or are equally distant from each other. incomplete series - the series in which the levels recorded in neravnovesnaya moments or periods of time.