step,rule,n_before,n_after,n_removed,rationale
info_filter,keep months <= t-2 (GDP published) at last origin 2026-04-01,345,338,7,publication-lag rule
lag_availability,drop rows lacking gdp_yoy(s-3) or emp_yoy(s-2) (start of sample),338,335,3,regressors not in file
covid_window,drop rows with target or regressor month in 2020-03..2021-12,335,310,25,pandemic outliers; pre-specified