What is the formula used to calculate percentage change in a business context?

The formula used to calculate percentage change in a business context is (New value - Old value) / Old value. This formula effectively captures the difference between the new and old values, which is the change in value, and then divides that change by the old value to express it as a fraction of the original amount. This fraction is then typically multiplied by 100 to convert it into a percentage.

Understanding this formula is essential for assessing growth or decline in various business metrics, such as sales, profits, or expenses. It allows businesses to quantify the extent of changes in their financial performance or market conditions. By using this approach, stakeholders can make informed decisions based on the percentage change, which provides clearer insights than evaluating raw numbers alone.

The other options do not accurately represent the method for calculating percentage change. Dividing the old value by the new value lacks context for what is being measured and does not reflect the change. Simply subtracting the old value from the new value gives the absolute change but does not provide the percentage context necessary for understanding the scale of that change relative to the original figure. Multiplying the old value by a percentage also does not relate to calculating the percentage change directly; instead, it calculates a portion of the old value.