Revisions and Status Transitions

How does a figure move from Forecast to Preliminary to Final?

Each figure follows a three-stage lifecycle. A Forecast (F) is a model prediction for a period that has not yet been reported. Once that period becomes current but official data has not yet arrived, the figure becomes a Preliminary (P) estimate produced by the same model. When verified official statistics are released, the figure becomes Final (Fi). Each transition replaces the prior value as better data becomes available.

What causes a published number to be revised?

A published figure is revised for three main reasons. First, official statistics arrive and replace earlier estimates — the normal Preliminary-to-Final transition. Second, continuous model reviews and methodology improvements introduce corrections that refine previously published values. Third, a submitted assessment complaint is resolved, prompting an adjustment to the affected figure. How errors are detected and how the assessment-complaint process works are detailed in the Validation & Accuracy section.

Where are changes to published data announced?

Every change is documented in the Intratec Release Notes, published each month and publicly available. The Release Notes record data revisions, methodology changes, assessment additions and retirements, and corrections — so any reader, subscriber or not, can trace how and why a figure changed over time. This monthly, public record keeps the published data auditable: a number never changes silently. Each monthly release follows the same workflow — report and database updates, a test-presentation check, the Release Notes, and communication of the changes to readers: