> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.fabricplan.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.fabricplan.com/planning-sheets/how-tos/forecast-data-to-predict-future-trends/allocate-deficits-to-meet-targets.md).
# Allocate deficits to meet targets
After you define a forecast, actuals may fall below the forecasted value. The shortfall between the forecasted and actual values is called the deficit.
If the forecast represents a committed target (quarter/year), a shortfall in early periods needs to be recovered later to still meet the target total.
* Without deficit distribution, the total forecast drifts downward unless someone manually adjusts later periods.
* With deficit distribution, Fabric planning shifts the shortfall to remaining periods so the overall target remains consistent.
In this article, you learn how to
* View the deficit between actual and forecasted values
* Allocate forecast deficits to future periods
* Distribute the deficit equally or using weights
### Prerequisites
1. Create a forecast measure and enter forecast values. In this example, you create a forecast for 2026.
2. Close a forecast period as actuals become available.
January actuals are less than the forecasted value of 2.49m. Use the **Distribute Deficit** option to allocate the shortfall across open forecasts.
### Configure measures and periods for deficit allocation
1. Select a forecast cell, then in the Model ribbon, select **Reforecast** > **Distribute Deficit**.
{% hint style="info" %}
Distribute a deficit to the total cell to adjust the overall total, or distribute it to child cells to spread the adjustment across lower-level forecasts.
{% endhint %}
2. Select the measures to compare - in this example, *Forecast* and *GL Amount Actual*. Fabric Planning calculates the deficit.
3. If you have other forecast measures in your report, you can distribute the deficit to those forecasts as well. Use the **Distribute to** dropdown to select the forecast.
4. Select the calendar icon, then select the periods to distribute the deficit across. In this example, you distribute the deficit in the January forecast across the forecasts for February and March.
5. Select the **Distribution Method**: distribute the deficit equally or by the weights of the forecast. To know more about equal distribution, see [Distribute deficits equally](#distribute-deficits-equally). To know more about weighted deficit allocation, see [Distribute deficits by weights](#distribute-deficits-by-weights).
6. Select **Run** to update the forecast periods configured in step 4 with the deficit value. Notice how the forecasts for February and March are updated.
### Distribute deficits equally
To distribute the deficit equally between configured periods, set the **Distribution Method** to **Distribute Equally**.
In this case, since the total deficit is distributed equally across two periods (February and March), divide the deficit amount by 2:
`Adjustment per month = 470,363.4057/2 = 235,181.70285`
February forecast adjustment
* Original forecast: 2.45m
* Deficit share: 235,181.70
* Calculation: 2.45m + 235.18k = 2,695,181.70
* Rounded Output: 2.70m
March forecast adjustment
* Original forecast: 2.57m
* Deficit share: 235,181.70
* Calculation: 2.57m + 235.18k = 2,805,181.70
* Rounded Output: 2.80m
{% hint style="info" %}
When you distribute deficits to a total value in a hierarchy, the child values are automatically updated based on the selected distribution method.
{% endhint %}
### Distribute deficits by weights
You can also distribute deficits based on the weights of the forecast values. Set the **Distribution Method** to **Distribute By Weights**.
The following steps demonstrate how weighted allocation works internally.
Step 1: Calculate the total weight base.
Combine the original forecasts for February and March to determine the total baseline:
Total Base = 2.46m + 2.57m = 5.03m
Step 2: Determine each month's proportion (weight).
* February weight:
2.46m / 5.03m = approx 48.9%
* March weight:
2.57m / 5.03m = approx 51.09%
Step 3: Allocate the deficit proportional to the weight.
Multiply the total deficit by each month's respective weight:
* February deficit share:
470,363.40 \* 48.90% = 230,038.5 (230k)
* March deficit share:
470,363.40 \* 51.09% = 240,324.85 (240k)
Step 4: Calculate updated forecasts
Add the allocated deficit share to each original forecast value:
* February updated forecast:
2.4m + 230k = 2.69m
* March updated forecast:
2.57m + 240k = 2.81m
---
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