Cost Estimation; Regression Analysis; Spreadsheet Application Plantcity is a large n...

Cost Estimation; Regression Analysis; Spreadsheet Application Plantcity is a large nursery and retail store specializing in house and garden plants and supplies. Jean Raouth, the assistant manager, is in the process of budgeting monthly supplies expense for 2013. She assumes that in some way supplies expense is related to sales, either in units or in dollars. She has collected these data for sales and supplies expenses for June 2010 through December 2012 and has estimated sales for 2013:

Required

1. Develop the regression that Jean should use based on these data and use the regression procedure in Excel or an equivalent regression software program. Evaluate the reliability and precision of the regression you have chosen.

2. What are the predicted monthly figures for supplies expense for 2013?