Home / Statistical Tools / Analysis Tools / Time Series / Cross Correlation
Cross Correlation¶
Measure how two series correlate when one is shifted in time relative to the other.
Where to find it
QXL Stat Tools → Analysis Tools → Time Series → Cross Correlation
Worked example
The Cross Correlation walkthrough builds this analysis step by step from sample data you can copy straight into Excel, and states every number it produces.
All six Time Series walkthroughs are listed on the How-To page.
What it does¶
The cross-correlation function (CCF) computes the correlation between two series across a range of time shifts (negative and positive lags). A strong spike at lag \(k\) means one series leads or trails the other by \(k\) periods, which is useful for finding delayed cause-and-effect relationships between process variables.
Options¶
The dialog is Time Series Correlation, with a Data tab and a Correlation Options tab.
Data tab
- Excel / GroupBy: analyze flat Excel columns, or split by one or more GroupBy columns
- Data Columns: at least two numeric columns; every unique pair of selected columns produces its own CCF
Correlation Options tab
- Auto / Manual lag type: Auto lets Quantum XL pick the lag range; Manual uses your lag count
- Lag Value: the number of lags when Manual is selected. Default 1; allowed 1 up to the number of observations minus 1.
Combining into a single chart is not available for the correlation tools.
Output¶
A worksheet named CCF ... containing, for each column pair:
- A needle-style chart of the CCF against Lag (negative through positive lags). Unlike the ACF and PACF charts, the CCF chart has no confidence bands.
- A data table with Lag, CCF columns
All pairs share the one worksheet, stacked one below the other.