How to Calculate Percentage Increase and Decrease
Tracking performance metrics, revenue growth, or price shifts requires calculating the relative percentage change between two baseline figures.
Percentage Change Formula
$$\text{Percentage Change} = \left(\frac{\text{Final Value} - \text{Initial Value}}{\vert\text{Initial Value}\vert}\right) \times 100$$
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't the initial value be zero?
Division by zero is mathematically undefined. You cannot calculate a relative percentage increase from an initial quantity of zero.