Individual + consensus forecasts
Individual panel estimates alongside mean, high, low and standard deviation for the major countries and indicators covered by each regional survey.
Historical forecast data
Economic forecast data in Excel
Structured historical and current Consensus Forecasts data for research, modelling and automation, with monthly updates and a deliberately consistent workbook structure.
Historical integrity
Carefully preserved survey databases, not reconstructed history.
Each survey database preserves the forecasts that were available at the time, allowing researchers to backtest models, study revisions and measure forecast performance on a proper point-in-time basis.
Available databases
Choose the historical database you need
Historical spreadsheet services are available across our core macroeconomic, currency and commodity forecast publications. Each service combines historical survey databases with ongoing spreadsheet updates.
Consistent structure
Built for repeatable research workflows
Similarly defined variables are kept in consistent spreadsheet columns and consensus data appears in the same rows from survey to survey. The survey date is included, helping clients link the data into models, research systems and automated extraction processes.
- Individual forecasts plus consensus mean, high, low and standard deviation
- Historical survey databases for major countries and indicators
- Consensus series for additional countries and selected exchange rate forecasts
- Brent oil price forecasts and spot prices on the survey date
TrendCharts
See how expectations move over time
Regional Excel services include a TrendCharts workbook tab for quickly displaying forecast revisions through time. Users can select countries, variables, survey years and consensus statistics to build an immediate visual history of changing expectations.
Included in regional spreadsheet services
TrendCharts has been included in the regional Excel services since late 2006.
What is included
More than a single consensus number
The regional monthly files provide the underlying distribution of professional forecasts as well as additional market series and tools.
Additional economies
Consensus means for selected variables in additional economies covered by the regional forecast publications.
Currency + oil forecasts
Selected exchange rate consensus forecasts plus Brent oil price expectations and the spot price on the survey date.
Historical databases
Past survey releases let researchers examine what professional forecasters expected at each point in time rather than only the latest forecast.
Delivery & access
Choose how you want to access the data
Work directly with Consensus Economics Excel files and point-in-time historical databases, or access selected datasets through established institutional research platforms.
Direct from Consensus Economics
Excel files + historical survey data
Receive preserved historical survey databases alongside ongoing spreadsheet updates delivered on publication release days.
- Historical survey data extending back to 1989
- Monthly spreadsheet updates for ongoing research
- TrendCharts included with regional Excel services
Institutional platforms
Use selected databases in your existing research stack
Selected Consensus Economics databases are also available as premium services through leading institutional data platforms.
Common questions
Practical questions about Excel data
Can the Excel files be used in automated workflows?
Yes. Our Excel datasets are structured for machines as well as people. We use strict naming conventions, consistent worksheet and field structures, stable series references and repeatable layouts so files can be incorporated into established analytical processes rather than rebuilt manually after every release. Explore API access.
That makes them well suited to macros, scripts and repeatable data pipelines in Python, R, VBA, Power Query and AI-enabled analytical workflows.
Can the historical data be used for backtesting?
Yes. Historical survey databases preserve the forecasts that were actually available at each point in time, allowing users to backtest models and strategies without reconstructing history from today's revised data. Historical data for institutions.
What sits behind the consensus mean?
The regional monthly files include individual panel forecasts alongside the consensus mean, high, low and standard deviation for major countries and indicators, giving users access to the distribution behind the headline number. How the consensus works.
How far back does the historical data go?
Historical coverage varies by dataset, with core Consensus Forecasts survey history extending back to 1989. The databank now contains more than 21 million individual forecasts. Read our history.
What is not included in the Excel files?
The spreadsheets focus on structured forecast data. Commentary from the accompanying forecast publications and special survey text are not included in the Excel files. Explore the full forecast publications.
Full transparency
Start with a sample, then build the dataset you need.
Review the forecast structure first, then order the service you need for ongoing access.