Percentage Change Calculator
Calculate the percentage increase or decrease between two values. Perfect for analyzing growth rates, discounts, trends, and data changes in business and finance.
Calculate Percentage Change
Enter the original value and new value to calculate the percentage change:
What is Percentage Change?
Percentage change measures the relative difference between an original value and a new value. It's commonly used to analyze growth rates, price changes, population changes, and business performance metrics.
Percentage Change Formula
📈 Increase
Positive percentage indicates growth or rise
📉 Decrease
Negative percentage indicates decline or reduction
📊 No Change
Zero percentage indicates no difference
🔄 Multiplier
Shows the factor by which the value changed
Common Applications
| Application | Example | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Stock Prices | $50 → $60 | +20% increase |
| Sales Growth | $10,000 → $12,500 | +25% increase |
| Discounts | $100 → $80 | -20% discount |
| Population Change | 1,000,000 → 950,000 | -5% decrease |
| Grade Improvement | 75% → 85% | +13.3% improvement |
| Weight Loss | 200 lbs → 180 lbs | -10% reduction |
Business Applications
📈 Revenue Growth
Quarter-over-quarter or year-over-year changes
💰 Profit Margins
Changes in profitability percentages
📊 Market Share
Gains or losses in market position
👥 Employee Turnover
Changes in workforce composition
Percentage Change vs Absolute Change
| Metric | Original: 100 | New: 110 | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Change | +10 | Increased by 10 units | |
| Percentage Change | +10% | Increased by 10% of original value | |
| Multiplier | ×1.10 | New value is 1.1 times original | |
💡 Pro Tip: Percentage change is always calculated relative to the original value. This allows fair comparison between different scales (e.g., comparing a $10 to $15 change vs a $1,000 to $1,500 change).
Common Percentage Changes
| Change Type | Typical Range | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Inflation Rate | 1-5% annually | Cost of living increases |
| Stock Market | -50% to +100% annually | Investment returns |
| Population Growth | 0.5-2% annually | Demographic changes |
| Economic Growth (GDP) | -5% to +8% annually | National economic performance |
| Discounts | 10-70% | Sales and promotions |
| Tax Rate Changes | 1-10% | Government policy changes |
Percentage Change Categories
📈 Small Change
0-5%: Minor fluctuations
📊 Moderate Change
5-20%: Noticeable difference
🚀 Significant Change
20-50%: Major impact
💥 Dramatic Change
50%+: Transformative change
Year-over-Year (YoY) Analysis
Comparing values from the same period in consecutive years:
- Revenue YoY: Business growth measurement
- Sales YoY: Seasonal performance comparison
- Stock Price YoY: Investment performance
- Population YoY: Demographic trends
- Temperature YoY: Climate change analysis
Percentage Change Best Practices
- 📊 Use consistent time periods: Compare similar periods for accurate analysis
- 🎯 Consider context: A 10% change in different contexts means different things
- 📈 Look for trends: Multiple data points provide better insights than single changes
- ⚖️ Compare fairly: Use percentage change for different scales, absolute change for same scale
- 🔍 Validate data: Ensure original values are not zero or extremely small
Real-World Examples
| Scenario | Original | New | % Change | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Price | $50.00 | $45.00 | -10% | 10% discount |
| Company Revenue | $1M | $1.25M | +25% | Strong growth quarter |
| Website Traffic | 10,000 | 8,500 | -15% | Traffic decline needs investigation |
| Student Grades | 75% | 88% | +17.3% | Significant improvement |
| Cryptocurrency | $10,000 | $50,000 | +400% | Exceptional return |