Daily Figures Edition No Sign-Up • Free Forever Vol. XII — No. 204
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Percentage Change Calculator

Enter an original and new value to get the percent increase or decrease between them.

Filed by The Statistics Desk  |  Method: (new − original) ÷ original
Percent change
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From original to new.
Details
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Absolute change—
Original—
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How the Percentage Change Calculator Works

Percentage change tells you how much a value has gone up or down relative to where it started. Take the difference between the new and original values, divide by the original, and multiply by 100. A positive result is an increase; a negative result is a decrease. It is the standard way to describe price moves, growth, and before-and-after comparisons.

The original value is always the denominator — that is what makes it a percentage of the starting point. Swapping which number is “original” changes the answer, so a rise from 100 to 150 is +50%, while a fall from 150 to 100 is −33.3%.

percent change = (new − original) ÷ original × 100

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate percentage change?

Subtract the original value from the new value, divide by the original, and multiply by 100. From 120 to 150 is (150 − 120) ÷ 120 × 100 = +25%.

Why isn’t an increase then a decrease of the same percent back to the start?

Because the base changes. Going 100 → 150 is +50%, but 150 → 100 is −33.3%, since the second change is measured against the larger number.

What does a negative percentage change mean?

It means the value decreased. A change of −25% means the new value is 25% lower than the original.

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