Final answer:
The correct option is D). Forecasting techniques that assume past sales patterns will continue into the future are variations of time series analysis. Regression analysis measures relationships between variables, while a random walk with a trend describes unexpected stock market movements, not predictable sales patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The forecasting techniques that assume past sales patterns will continue into the future are all variations of d) time series analysis. Time series analysis is a statistical technique that uses historical data points to model and predict future outcomes. In the context of sales or market demand, it involves analyzing past sales data to identify trends and patterns that can help predict future sales.
Regression analysis, on the other hand, is utilized to measure relationships between cause and effect variables, such as understanding the impact of multiple variables on a dependent variable like obesity.
When forecasting in an unpredictable area like the stock market, some might describe the price movements as a "random walk with a trend" because prices fluctuate randomly but tend to rise over time. However, this is not the same as assuming that past patterns will continue as in time series forecasting.
Geographers might use regression models to predict the impact of new establishments on local crime rates, considering various causal variables and how they might affect the outcome. But again, this approach fundamentally differs from the assumption of continuing patterns that characterize time series analysis.