David Stoffer describes some challenges with R's output when fitting ARIMA models for different orders (see Issue 2 at http://www.stat.pitt.edu/stoffer/tsa2/Rissues.htm). R doesn't fit an intercept in the model if there is any differencing. David describes a workaround using the xreg parameter to force R to calculate an intercept. Assume I have a variable y and 3 explanatory variables a, b and c. No intercept would be produced for the model .... fit = arima(y, order=c(1,1,0), xreg=c(a,b,c)) 1. If I wish to force an intercept to be output is the following correct? intercept = 1:length(y) fit2 = arima(y, order=c(1,1,0), xreg=c(intercept, a, b, c)) 2. If 1 is correct, is the following code equivalent? data = ts.intersect(diff(y),intercept, a,b,c) fit3 = arima(data[,1], order=c(1,0,0), xreg=[,c(2:5)]) 3. If I fit 2 and find the intercept is not significant would it be correct to use the following? fit = arima(y, order=c(1,1,0), xreg=c(a,b,c)) Thanks for your help Kind regards Pete This e-mail may contain confidential or proprietary information belonging to the BP group and is intended only for the use of the recipients named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify the sender and either delete this email or return to the sender immediately. You may not review, copy or distribute this email. Within the bounds of law, this part of BP retains all emails and IMs and may monitor them to ensure compliance with BP's internal policies and for other legitimate business purposes. [[alternative HTML version deleted]]