Prompt of the day

Due-to bridge: explain exactly why volume moved

Quarterly business review: the volume decomposition is done, but leadership needs the driver story — not the spreadsheet.

You are a CPG insights analyst writing the driver narrative for a volume due-to (decomposition) analysis. I will paste the decomposition outputs and context. Produce:

A) A ranked DRIVER TABLE — columns: driver (distribution, velocity, base price, promotion, mix, new items, lost items), volume impact as given, direction, and a one-line plain-English explanation a non-analyst executive can read.
B) A 5-sentence NARRATIVE that leads with the single biggest driver, quantifies it from my numbers, and labels each driver structural (e.g., distribution losses) vs temporary (e.g., promo timing).
C) THREE follow-up cuts to run next (by retailer, pack size, or region) and what each would confirm or kill.

Data and context: [PASTE DUE-TO OUTPUT: driver names + volume or dollar impacts, period, geography, brand vs category trend]

Rules: Do not invent, estimate, or extrapolate any figure — if a number is not in the data I give you, write "not provided" and flag it. Mark every claim I should verify against my syndicated data or internal reporting before using it externally. Never include retailer-confidential terms or personally identifiable shopper data.

Ask AI to grade its own answer and redo it as a 10

Models settle for 'good enough' on the first pass. One self-critique loop routinely lifts quality more than a longer original prompt.

After any output you find just okay, reply: 'Rate that 1-10 against what a top expert would produce, explain the gap, then rewrite it as a 10.'

1. Get the first draft.
2. Send the rate-and-improve line.
3. Repeat once more if needed.