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Can Google Search Data Help Predict Macroeconomic Series?

Author

Listed:
  • Robin Niesert
  • Jochem Oorschot

    (Econometric Institute, Erasmus University)

  • Chris Veldhuisen
  • Kester Brons
  • Rutger-Jan Lange

    (Econometric Institute, Erasmus University)

Abstract

We use Google search data with the aim of predicting unemployment, CPI and consumer confidence for the US, UK, Canada, Germany and Japan. Google search queries have previously proven valuable in predicting macroeconomic variables in an in-sample context. To our knowledge, the more challenging question of whether such data have out-of-sample predictive value has not yet been satisfactorily answered. We focus on out-of-sample nowcasting, and extend the Bayesian Structural Time Series model using the Hamiltonian sampler for variable selection. We find that the search data retain their value in an out- of-sample predictive context for unemployment, but not for CPI and consumer confidence. It may be that online search behaviour is a relatively reliable gauge of an individual's personal situation (employment status), but less reliable when it comes to variables that are unknown to the individual (CPI) or too general to be linked to specific search terms (consumer confidence).

Suggested Citation

  • Robin Niesert & Jochem Oorschot & Chris Veldhuisen & Kester Brons & Rutger-Jan Lange, "undated". "Can Google Search Data Help Predict Macroeconomic Series?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 19-021/III, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20190021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. David Kohns & Arnab Bhattacharjee, 2020. "Nowcasting Growth using Google Trends Data: A Bayesian Structural Time Series Model," Papers 2011.00938, arXiv.org, revised May 2022.
    3. Fernandez-Perez, Adrian & Fuertes, Ana-Maria & Gonzalez-Fernandez, Marcos & Miffre, Joelle, 2020. "Fear of hazards in commodity futures markets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
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    5. Tian, Yu-Xin & Zhang, Chuan, 2023. "An end-to-end deep learning model for solving data-driven newsvendor problem with accessibility to textual review data," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    6. Monge, Manuel & Claudio-Quiroga, Gloria & Poza, Carlos, 2024. "Chinese economic behavior in times of covid-19. A new leading economic indicator based on Google trends," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    7. Kwon, Yujin & Park, Sung Y., 2023. "Modeling an early warning system for household debt risk in Korea: A simple deep learning approach," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    8. Rodrigo Mulero & Alfredo García-Hiernaux, 2021. "Forecasting Spanish unemployment with Google Trends and dimension reduction techniques," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 329-349, September.
    9. Szczygielski, Jan Jakub & Charteris, Ailie & Obojska, Lidia & Brzeszczyński, Janusz, 2024. "Capturing the timing of crisis evolution: A machine learning and directional wavelet coherence approach to isolating event-specific uncertainty using Google searches with an application to COVID-19," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    10. Alina Stundziene & Vaida Pilinkiene & Jurgita Bruneckiene & Andrius Grybauskas & Mantas Lukauskas & Irena Pekarskiene, 2024. "Future directions in nowcasting economic activity: A systematic literature review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1199-1233, September.
    11. Daniel Borup & David E. Rapach & Erik Christian Montes Schütte, 2021. "Now- and Backcasting Initial Claims with High-Dimensional Daily Internet Search-Volume Data," CREATES Research Papers 2021-02, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    12. Kohns, David & Bhattacharjee, Arnab, 2023. "Nowcasting growth using Google Trends data: A Bayesian Structural Time Series model," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1384-1412.
    13. Khaskheli, Asadullah & Zhang, Hongyu & Raza, Syed Ali & Khan, Komal Akram, 2022. "Assessing the influence of news indicator on volatility of precious metals prices through GARCH-MIDAS model: A comparative study of pre and during COVID-19 period," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    14. Salisu, Afees A. & Ogbonna, Ahamuefula E. & Adewuyi, Adeolu, 2020. "Google trends and the predictability of precious metals," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    15. Rodrigo Mulero & Alfredo Garcia-Hiernaux, 2023. "Forecasting unemployment with Google Trends: age, gender and digital divide," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(2), pages 587-605, August.
    16. Caperna, Giulio & Colagrossi, Marco & Geraci, Andrea & Mazzarella, Gianluca, 2022. "A babel of web-searches: Googling unemployment during the pandemic," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    17. Borup, Daniel & Rapach, David E. & Schütte, Erik Christian Montes, 2023. "Mixed-frequency machine learning: Nowcasting and backcasting weekly initial claims with daily internet search volume data," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1122-1144.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bayesian methods; forecasting practice; Kalman filter; macroeconomic forecasting; state space models; nowcasting; spike-and-slab; Hamiltonian sampler;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods

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