Dry Goods Sales The data is for weekly sales in the dry goods department at aWal*Mart store in the Northeast.  Peak values, I.e.spikes, usually occur at holiday periods.  Week 1 is thefirst week of February 2002.  To show continuity, week 1of 2003 is represented as week 54 since week 53 represents the endof fiscal 2002 and start of the 2003 fiscal year. Dollar values areadjusted in order to disguise true sales figures, but trends in thedata are retained for analysis puposes.

Week		Sales in $
26		15200
27		15600
28		16400
29		15600
30		14200
31		14400
32		16400
33		15200
34		14400
35		13800
36		15000
37		14100
38		14400
39		14000
40		15600
41		15000
42		14400
43		17800
44		15000
45		15200
46		15800
47		18600
48		15400
49		15500
50		16800
51		18700
52		21400
53		20900
54		18800
55		22400
56		19400
57		20000
58		18100
59		18000
60		19600
61		19000
62		19200
63		18000
64		17600
65		17200
66		19800
67		19600
68		19600
69		20000
70		20800
71		22800
72		23000
73		20800
74		25000
75		30600
76		24000
77		21200

1.) Can you identify at least 6 holiday periods or specialevents that cause the spikes in the data?

a.) In each case give the week number, date, and what holiday orspecial event it represents

b.) Which holiday results in the maximum sales for thisdepartment and how much are the sales?

2.) Generate three linear models for this data. Each linearmodel should be generated from a pair of data points.

a.) For each linear model, find the equation of the line. Showyour work. Write the equation in slope intercept form.

b.) For each linear model discuss the meaning of the slope andy-intercept. Also provide an analysis as to why you like or dislikethat particular model

c.) Discuss the rationale behind the model that you believe bestpredicts future results.

3.) Predict and analyze sales for the next four weeks

a.) Using your most preferred linear model, predict sales forthe next four weeks and show calculations

b.) Based on your preferred linear model, compute the percentrate of increase (y2-y1)/y1 for the next four weeks

4.) If you were a manager of this department store, whatrecommendation would you make to the person in charge ofinventory?