year-on-year
compared with the same period last year
In more detail
comparing the same period in consecutive years; showing change from one year to the next
Examples
- Sales increased year-on-year by 15%, meaning they grew compared to the same period last year.
How to use year-on-year
Year-on-year is used primarily in financial, economic, and business contexts to compare performance, statistics, or metrics between the same period in consecutive years. It emphasizes the change or trend over a 12-month cycle and is especially common in reports, earnings statements, and data analysis to show whether something is improving or deteriorating.
Common phrases
- year-on-year growth
- year-on-year increase
- year-on-year comparison
- year-on-year decline
- year-on-year basis
Synonyms
year-over-year · annual · year to year · compared with last year · on a yearly basis
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse year-on-year with quarter-on-quarter or month-on-month, forgetting that year-on-year specifically compares periods exactly one year apart, not adjacent shorter time periods.
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