Percent change from last year
Step 1 of 2
A percent change compares the difference with where you started: (new − old) / old. Here the old figure is 2023 in column B, the new one 2024 in column C.
Click Continue when you're ready.
Already know it? Type the formula straight into D2.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Product | 2023 | 2024 | Change | ||
| 2 | Coffee | 1200 | 1500 | |||
| 3 | Tea | 800 | 720 | |||
| 4 | Cocoa | 450 | 540 | |||
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | ||||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 8 |
Need help?
Why this works
Sales went from 1,200 to 1,500, a difference of 300. Divided by the starting point, 1,200, that is 0.25. Format the cell as a percentage (Ctrl+Shift+%) and it shows 25%. Filled down, tea shows -0.1, a 10% drop.
Common mistake: Leaving out the parentheses. =C2-B2/B2 divides first and works out 1500 - 1 = 1499.
The answer
- D2
=(C2-B2)/B2
=(new-old)/old, for example =(C2-B2)/B2. Format the cell as a percentage to show 0.25 as 25%.
The value is right; the cell is in the General format. Press Ctrl+Shift+% or pick Percentage in the number format menu.
+15 points