The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce released the U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the period Fourth Quarter 1999–Fourth Quarter 2008. The file titled E-Commerce contains that data.
a. Using the fourth quarter of 1999 as the base, calculate a Laspeyres Index for the retail sales for the period of Fourth Quarter 1999–Fourth Quarter 2008.
b. Determine the actual percentage change in the retail sales for the period Fourth Quarter 1999–First Quarter 2004.
c. Determine the actual percentage change in the retail sales for the period First Quarter 2004–First Quarter 2006.