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Tracking Economic Activity With Alternative High‐Frequency Data

Author

Listed:
  • Florian Eckert
  • Philipp Kronenberg
  • Heiner Mikosch
  • Stefan Neuwirth

Abstract

Monthly macroeconomic series captured the sharp fluctuations during the COVID‐19 pandemic only with a lag. The use of alternative high‐frequency data is promising for crisis periods, but it is difficult to extract relevant business cycle information from them. We present a Bayesian mixed‐frequency dynamic factor model with stochastic volatility for measuring GDP growth at high‐frequency intervals. Its novelty is an additional state‐space block, in which the sparse observations in the mixed‐frequency data are augmented to a balanced panel with observed and estimated latent information. The dynamic factors are then estimated conditional on the augmented data. Our model exploits the information in rich datasets of weekly, monthly, and quarterly series, including alternative high‐frequency data. GDP is nowcasted timely and accurately during volatile periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Eckert & Philipp Kronenberg & Heiner Mikosch & Stefan Neuwirth, 2025. "Tracking Economic Activity With Alternative High‐Frequency Data," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 270-290, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:japmet:v:40:y:2025:i:3:p:270-290
    DOI: 10.1002/jae.3104
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Felber & Simon Beyeler, 2023. "Nowcasting economic activity using transaction payments data," Working Papers 2023-01, Swiss National Bank.
    2. Sylvia Kaufmann, 2022. "Covid-19 outbreak and beyond: A retrospect on the information content of registered short-time workers for GDP now- and forecasting," Working Papers 22.02, Swiss National Bank, Study Center Gerzensee.
    3. Chan, Joshua C.C. & Poon, Aubrey & Zhu, Dan, 2023. "High-dimensional conditionally Gaussian state space models with missing data," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 236(1).
    4. Sylvia Kaufmann, 2023. "Covid-19 outbreak and beyond: a retrospect on the information content of short-time workers for GDP now- and forecasting," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 159(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Mantas Lukauskas & Vaida Pilinkienė & Jurgita Bruneckienė & Alina Stundžienė & Andrius Grybauskas & Tomas Ruzgas, 2022. "Economic Activity Forecasting Based on the Sentiment Analysis of News," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(19), pages 1-22, September.
    6. Mertens, Elmar, 2023. "Precision-based sampling for state space models that have no measurement error," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    7. Florian Eckert & Heiner Mikosch, 2022. "Firm bankruptcies and start-up activity in Switzerland during the COVID-19 crisis," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Springer;Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics, vol. 158(1), pages 1-25, December.
    8. Wegmüller, Philipp & Glocker, Christian & Guggia, Valentino, 2023. "Weekly economic activity: Measurement and informational content," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 228-243.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications

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