We consider the reasons for nowcasting, the timing of information and sources thereof, especially contemporaneous data, which introduce different aspects compared to forecasting. We allow for the impact of location shifts inducing nowcast failure and nowcasting during breaks, probably with...

Using annual observations on industrial production over the last three centuries, and on GDP over a 100-year period, we seek an historical perspective on the forecastability of these UK output measures. The series are dominated by strong upward trends, so we consider various specifications of...