Consider the file P2_37.XLS, which contains total monthly U.S. retail sales data for the years 1993-1996.

a. Generate a plot of this time series and comment on any observable trends, including a possible seasonal pattern, in the data.

b. Based on your time series plot, make a qualitative projection about the total retail sales levels for the months of 1997. Specifically, in which months of the subsequent year do you expect retail sales levels to be highest? In which months of the subsequent year do you expect retail sales levels to be lowest?