What is percent change?
Percent change describes how much a number went up or down, as a share of where it started. A rise from 2,342 to 2,500 is 158 more, which is about 6.75% of the starting 2,342.
Because it's measured against the start, percent change lets you compare things that begin at different levels. A price going from 112.5 to 121.5 and one going from 225 to 243 both rose 8%, even though the second moved twice as many points.
Source BLS · CPI questions and answers ↗
How to calculate percent change
Here it is with your numbers:
- Subtract the old value from the new one: 2,500 − 2,342 = 158.
- Divide by the old value: 158 ÷ 2,342 = 0.0675.
- Multiply by 100 to turn it into a percent: 6.75%.
It means the value rose by 6.75%, from 2,342 to 2,500. To get back to 2,342, it would need to fall by 6.32%.
If the starting number is negative, we divide by its size without the minus sign, so a move up always shows as an increase: −10 to −5 is up 50%. Some calculators skip this and call it −50%.
Source Microsoft Support · Calculate percentages ↗
Percent change examples
| Example | From → to | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly earnings rise | 2,342 → 2,500 | +6.75% |
| Monthly earnings fall | 2,500 → 2,425 | −3% |
| Price index | 110 → 128 | +16.4% |
Why a rise and a fall don't cancel out
A percent is always measured from the starting number. After a rise, the starting point for the fall is higher, so it takes a smaller percent to get back. $100 up 20% is $120, but 20% off $120 is $96, not $100. To undo a 20% rise you need a fall of about 16.67%. The "To get back" column shows this for your number.
Common changes from 2,342
| Change | New value | To get back |
|---|---|---|
| +5%You | 2,459.1 | −4.76% |
| +10%You | 2,576.2 | −9.09% |
| +20%You | 2,810.4 | −16.67% |
| +25%You | 2,927.5 | −20% |
| +50%You | 3,513 | −33.33% |
| +100%You | 4,684 | −50% |
| −10%You | 2,107.8 | 11.11% |
| −20%You | 1,873.6 | 25% |
| −25%You | 1,756.5 | 33.33% |
| −50%You | 1,171 | 100% |
Percent change in Excel
| To find | Formula |
|---|---|
| Percent change | =(B2-A2)/A2 |
| Increase by a percent | =A2*(1+25%) |
| Decrease by a percent | =A2*(1-25%) |
Put the old value in A2 and the new value in B2. Format the answer cell as Percentage to see 6.75% instead of 0.0675.
FAQs
How do I calculate percent change?
Subtract the old number from the new one, divide by the old number, then multiply by 100. If your earnings went from $2,342 to $2,500, that is (2,500 − 2,342) ÷ 2,342 = 0.0675, an increase of 6.75%.
How do I work out a percentage increase?
If you know both numbers, use the percent change formula above. To increase a number by a percent, multiply it by 1 plus the percent as a decimal: $113 increased by 25% is 113 × 1.25 = $141.25.
How do I calculate a percent decrease?
Use the same formula; the answer comes out negative. From $2,500 to $2,425 is (2,425 − 2,500) ÷ 2,500 = −0.03, a decrease of 3%. To take a percent off a number, multiply by 1 minus the percent: $113 less 25% is 113 × 0.75 = $84.75.
How do I calculate percent change in Excel?
Put the old value in A2 and the new value in B2, then type =(B2-A2)/A2 in another cell and format that cell as a percentage.