This may be a ridiculous newbie question, but I've searched this forum and many others, and read countless posts and can't find a DIRECT reply to this:

When the previous amount for a news item is posted oncliqforextogether with the forecast number, why can it be that right in the time of the most recent news release they frequently alter the PREVIOUS number several points? How can that amount be altered? Is a hard number from the news release?

And if there are several other factors which enter into it, and the previous few has to be revised, why is not it just a few days later rather than at the time of the next news release?

Does this question make sense? I would certainly appreciate anyone shedding a little light.

Thanks!