What type of analysis is being conducted when a manager reviews five years of sales data to anticipate future sales?

The appropriate choice for the type of analysis being conducted when a manager reviews five years of sales data to anticipate future sales is trend analysis. This approach involves examining historical data to identify patterns or trends over time, which can then be used to make predictions about future performance. By analyzing five years of sales data, the manager can observe fluctuations, cyclical patterns, or consistent growth, allowing for informed projections about future sales outcomes.

Forecasting, while related, generally incorporates various methods beyond just identifying trends, such as factors influencing sales. Comparative analysis involves directly assessing differences between various data sets or metrics, and causal analysis seeks to establish cause-and-effect relationships, neither of which is primarily concerned with using historical data trends for future predictions.