Use Segment Information to Refine Sales Forecast

To forecast sales growth for Best Buy for the fiscal year ended February $2,2019,$ we begin with the following historical sales information.

Note: Format cells so each amount shows two decimal places. Do not round amounts $-$ use Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal in Excel toolbar to adjust.

Then in MBC$,$ enter the answers with two decimal places.

a$.$ Determine the sales$-$growth rate $($in percentage$)$ for each of the years $2016$ to $2019.$

b$.$ If we were to use the $2019$ growth to forecast $2020$ sales, what rate would we use?

Hint: Consider multiplying sales for a $53-$week year by $\frac{52}{53}$ to get an apples$-$to$-$apples comparison with numbers from $52-$week years.