Calculate Percentage Increase

Measure growth (or decline) between two numbers as a percentage.

You will learn to

• Use (new − old) / old
• Use parentheses to control order of operations
• Copy a formula down a column

How it works

Percent change compares a new value with an old one: =(C2-B2)/B2. The parentheses make Excel subtract first. A negative result means a decrease. Format the cell as a percentage.

=(C2-B2)/B2