moving average

American  

noun

Statistics.

1. one of a succession of averages of data from a time series, where each average is calculated by successively shifting the interval by the same period of time.

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moving average British  

noun

1. statistics (of a sequence of values) a derived sequence of the averages of successive subsequences of a given number of members, often used in time series to even out short-term fluctuations and make a trend clearer

   the 3-term moving average of 4, 6, 8, 7, 9, 8 is 6, 7, 8

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Etymology

Origin of moving average

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

moving average

The trend measure—a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts—was little changed, slipping 0.5% to 247,377 housing units in July, the national housing agency said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Regardless, the trend of a VIX buy signal for the stock market remains in place, because the VIX is below its 200-day moving average.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Gold gained $150.40 a troy ounce, or 3.7%, and settled above its 50-day moving average for the first time since March on Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

There’s one thing that investors can cross off their list of things to worry about: The stock market’s recent break below its 50-day moving average.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

This reinforces the conclusion that it’s the approach itself that has lost touch, rather than the particular number of trading days that are incorporated into the moving average.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026