# Allocate deficits to meet targets

After a forecast is defined, actuals may fall below the forecast. 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 distribution, the total forecast drifts downward unless someone manually adjusts later periods.
* With distribution, Plan shifts the shortfall to remaining periods so the overall target remains consistent.

### Distribute deficits

1. Select a forecast cell, then select **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 measure to compare the forecast against. The deficit is automatically calculated and displayed.

<figure><img src="/files/77rh5IrLNoIm4WnnIT31" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. If you have multiple forecast measures in your report, select the forecast measure to distribute the deficit.
4. Select the calendar icon, then select the periods to distribute the deficit across.

<figure><img src="/files/k4Ldj1NKCP7j5WSCB2sZ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

5. Select the **Distribution Method**: distribute the deficit equally or by the weights of the forecast.
6. Select **Run** to distribute the deficit across the selected periods.

<figure><img src="/files/hHN7iZgxsLjjL6k499DF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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