Calculating percent increase is a useful skill in various scenarios, from analyzing business growth to tracking personal finance progress. Excel, as a versatile and powerful tool, can help you perform these calculations with ease. This article will guide you through the process of calculating percent increase using Excel.

Step 1: Organize Your Data

Before we start calculating the percent increase, it is essential to organize your data in columns or rows. Assuming you have two columns – one for the initial value and another for the final value – you can proceed with the calculation.

For example:

| Initial Value | Final Value |

|—————|————-|

|      100      |     120     |

|      150      |     180     |

Step 2: Create a New Column for Percent Increase

Next, create a new column or row next to your data set, labeling it as “Percent Increase.”

Step 3: Input the Formula

In the first cell of the “Percent Increase” column (assuming it’s C2), input the following formula:

=(B2-A2)/A2

This formula calculates the difference between the final value (cell B2) and initial value (cell A2) and divides it by the initial value (cell A2).

Step 4: Apply Formatting for Percentages

To display your result as a percentage, click on the cell containing your formula (cell C2) and press Ctrl + Shift + % or right-click on your cell, select Format Cells, click on Percentage in the Category list, and choose your desired decimal places. Now, your result should be shown as a percentage. In our example, it would display as 20.00%.

Step 5: Drag Down to Calculate Other Rows

If you have more than one row of data, click on the bottom-right corner of your formula cell (C2) and drag it down until you have calculated the percent increase for all rows.

Conclusion:

Excel provides an efficient way to calculate percent increase, helping you analyze data and make informed decisions. With this simple formula and proper data organization, you can quickly determine the growth or progress in various aspects of your personal and professional life.