DESCRIBING TRENDS OR MOVEMENTS IN GRAPHS/CHARTS

How to describe graphs and charts:

TRENDS AND MOVEMENTS

upward trend stability (no change) change of directions downward trend
(e.g. increase) (e.g. be stable) (e.g. recover) (e.g. fall)

Language:
nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, time adverbials, sentence structure

Such language is widely used in business

Britains economy grew AT its slowest annual rate for 12 years in the second quarter. A recent survey has reported the fastest-ever year-on-year sales decline. Germanys August sales fell for the third month in a row. (for the third consecutive month)

Such language is widely used in business

A plunge IN sales was recorded in America. Consumer confidence is declining sharply. Wal-Marts sales increased BY 0.2% TO $76.8 bn in the second quarter. Tescos sales were up 14% TO 18.8bn. (sales are up sales are down) rising fuel costs / increasing household debt (falling...) (decreasing...)

NOUN
increase rise growth decrease fall decline drop fluctuation

VERB
increase rise, rose, risen grow, grew, grown decrease fall, fell, fallen decline drop, dropped, dropped fluctuate

PREPOSITIONS
to rise from $1m to $2m to increase (by) 100% an increase of 100%

to fall from $2m to $1m to decrease (by) 50% a decrease of 50% A rise in sales, a fall in profits, ... Sales are at last years level.The price is at 2.5 per litre.

Translate (Reader):
poveanje cijene od 15% An increase in the price of 15% (A 15% increase in the price) To increase the price by 15% To increase the price to 23,000 To increase the price by 23,000 The price is at $2.3.

poveati cijenu za 15% povisiti cijenu na 23,000 povisiti cijenu za 23,000 Cijena je na $2.3.

PODRAVKA MAKES HRK21m PROFIT

Podravka, the Koprivnica-based food producer, made a net profit 1........ HRK21m last year. The companys total income increased 2......... 7.1 per cent reaching HRK2.4bn in 1997. This year, its first quarter income went up 3......... HRK631m, a rise 4......... 11 per cent. Last year, Podravkas sales grew 5......... 7.56 per cent 6......... HRK2.3bn. They were 7......... HRK 596.5m in the first quarter of this year, an increase 8......... 12 per cent.

(HINA, 1998)

PODRAVKA MAKES HRK21m PROFIT

Podravka, the Koprivnica-based food producer, made a net profit (1)of HRK21m last year. The companys total income increased (2)by7.1 per cent reaching HRK2.4bn in 1997. This year, its first quarter income went up (3)to HRK631m, a rise (4) of 11 per cent. Last year, Podravkas sales grew (5) by 7.56 per cent (6) to HRK2.3bn. They were (7) at HRK 596.5m in the first quarter of this year, an increase 8of 12 per cent.
(HINA, 1998)

Verbs describing trends

(Study next slide and fill in the chart)
FALL NO CHANGE RISE

CHANGE OF DIRECTION

Verbs to use:
Level off Rise Remain constant Hold steady Drop Reach a high Climb back Plunge Decline Fluctuate Reach a low Recover Reach a peak/Peak Falter Go up Increase Slump Boom Flatten out Escalate Stabilize Collapse Slip back Soar Rocket Crash Grow Fall Bottom out Pick up Go down Decrease Decline

Intensity
Adjectives and adverbs
e.g. (MK p.185/186)

to rise suddenly/ a sudden rise in to drop sharply / a sharp drop in fall slightly / a slight fall in to decrease moderately/ a moderate decrease in ...

Guidelines to describe a chart (Reader):

Describe the general trend e.g. A downward trend is noticed in the retail sales in 2005. When did it peak/reach a low?

Time: In what period...? For how long ....?

e.g. in the period between March and June 2005, in the first quarter of 2005, in the second half of 2005, for three consecutive months... How intensive/quick was the change?

Back to describing graphs and charts:

Graph description (see next slide for analysis)

In the period between Feb 1999 and Jan 2000, an upward trend was recorded in the growth rate of retail sales peaking at x% at the end of the observed period. Having reached a low towards the end of January 1999, retail sales started rising in February, slipped back in March and remained stable at X% throughout April. A sharp increase to X% is visible in early May followed by an abrupt drop to X% in June. Retail sales climbed back to X% in July. They went up mildly in August and continued rising in September.

1.Italics: intensity/speed (How fast/intensive is the change?) 2.Underlined time adverbials (When?) 3.Red - trend (up/down?, changed direction?) 4.Blue prepositions

In the period between Feb 1999 and Jan 2000, an upward trend was recorded in the growth rate of retail sales peaking at x% at the end of the observed period. Having reached a low towards the end of January 1999, retail sales started rising in February, slipped back in March and remained stable at X% throughout April. A sharp increase to X% is visible in early May followed by an abrupt drop to X% in June. Retail sales climbed back to X% in July. They went up mildly in August and continued rising in September.