Can I use excel to explain "consumption" over time based on age and income category?

[Anthony Buchanan]

So I have a series of data inputs that provide a consumption figure based on the age and income of groups over time; i.e.

the data is laid out as so:

Date, Consumption, # of Customers in Age Category 1, # of Customers in Income Category One

I have multiple dates (monthly back to 2000)...

Consumption Varies

Age Category (basically a Kids Group, Young Adults, Adults, Older Adults) 4 Groups

Income Group (basically a Low Income, Med Income, High Income, Very High Income)... (4 groups)

So for each date I have 16 observations (4 ages * 4 groups)

NOTE: I don't have individual records (i.e. I don't have a record for each customer... I only have aggregate records... i.e. the 16 records per date/month.


I'm trying to figure out the "influence" of Age versus that of income.

Was thinking I could look at some type of coefficients that would help explain... but I've been out of school a LONG time, and don't know what in the heck to read/where to look, etc.

Can anyone provide a little directions or what to read up on, etc?

[Pete_UK]

You could think about displaying the information graphically in a series of graphs. One graph might have the dates going across (X axis) and the consumption going up (Y axis), and you could have 4 lines (series), one for each income group, with perhaps a drop-down that enables you to choose the Age category. A similar graph could have four series for each Age category, where you could choose the Income Group from a drop-down. There are many other charts that could be constructed - essentially, you would create a summary table from your main data and then use the summary table as the source for your graphs.

It would help if you attached a sample Excel workbook, so we can see what your data looks like. To do this, click on Go Advanced (below the Edit Window) while you are composing a reply, then scroll down to and click on Manage Attachments and the Upload window will open. Click on Browse and navigate to (and double-click) the file icon that you want to attach, then click on Upload and Close this Window to return to the Edit window. When you have finished composing your post, click on Submit Post.

Pete

[Anthony Buchanan]

Thanks...

Here is the data file...