increase compared to last year

USAGE SUMMARY

"increase compared to last year" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a change or growth in a specific quantity or number from the previous year. Example: The company's profits showed a 10% increase compared to last year's earnings.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"The weather definitely had an impact on our business in November, which was flat when we had expected an increase compared to last year," said Michael Collins, a spokesman for Recreational Equipment Inc., which makes and sells a variety of outdoor wear.

The New York Times

"Renting living space now costs about 250,000 KPW per month – a fivefold increase compared to last year, when the monthly rent was about 53,000 KPW, or roughly the cost of 10kg of rice in North Korea's markets," said the source.

The Guardian

Last quarter it posted $957 million in revenues, a 31percentt increase compared to last year.

TechCrunch

Salesforce.com beat estimated earnings, posting $957 million in revenues, a 31percentt increase compared to last year.

TechCrunch

Marijuana software company MJ Freeway predicts that sales will exceed $45 million, a 20% increase compared to last year.

Forbes

"In the first fortnight of July this year, we had a 100% increase compared to last year.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Douglas County has reported increasing next year's budget by $32,000 (a 10percentt increase compared to 2010, the most recent comparable election year) to address the additional burdens from the proof of citizenship requirement.

Huffington Post

Before the election, many, based on polling, were expecting turnout to substantially increase compared to 2010.

The Guardian

Trucks, SUVs, and crossovers led the charge with a 13percentt increase compared to 2014.

University of California, Berkeley

In most countries the number of applications represents a small increase, compared to 1999.

World Patent Information

That's a 35% increase over last month and a 300% increase compared to a year ago.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting financial results, clearly state the percentage of "increase compared to last year" to provide a concise and easily understandable metric.

Common error

Be specific about the 'last year' you're referencing. If comparing against a non-standard fiscal year, clarify the exact dates to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase compared to last year" functions as a modifier in sentences, typically describing the extent of growth or progress relative to a prior period. It provides quantitative context to the subject being discussed, indicating the degree of change.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increase compared to last year" is a commonly used and grammatically sound way to describe growth or progress relative to the previous year. Ludwig AI affirms this usage, highlighting its suitability for various contexts, primarily in news, science, and business reporting. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the exact timeframe being compared and providing quantitative metrics for better understanding. Alternatives like "year-over-year increase" or "growth relative to last year" can be used for variety, but "increase compared to last year" remains a clear and effective choice for conveying annual growth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase from the previous year

Rephrases the comparison using 'from' instead of 'compared to'.

year-over-year increase

Uses a compound adjective to describe the increase, focusing on the annual comparison.

growth relative to last year

Emphasizes the 'growth' aspect and uses 'relative to' as the comparison point.

annual growth

Highlights the yearly growth aspect, simplifying the comparison.

expansion since last year

Uses 'expansion' to denote growth and 'since' to indicate the time frame.

uptick compared to the prior year

Replaces 'increase' with 'uptick' and 'last year' with 'prior year'.

positive change year over year

Highlights the positive aspect of the change and employs 'year over year'.

jump from a year earlier

Uses 'jump' to signify a sudden increase and 'a year earlier' for temporal context.

improved compared with the previous 12 months

Specifies a 12-month comparison period and uses 'improved' to denote positive change.

boost in contrast to the preceding year

Employs 'boost' to signify an increase and 'preceding year' for the point of comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "increase compared to last year" in a sentence?

You can use "increase compared to last year" to describe growth or progress, such as "Sales showed a significant "increase compared to last year", driven by new product launches".

What are some alternatives to "increase compared to last year"?

Alternatives include "year-over-year increase", "growth relative to last year", or "annual growth", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "increase compared to last year" or "increase from last year"?

Both phrases are acceptable. "Increase compared to last year" is slightly more formal, while "increase from last year" is more conversational. The choice depends on the tone and style of your writing.

How do I calculate the percentage of "increase compared to last year"?

To calculate the percentage, subtract last year's value from this year's value, divide the result by last year's value, and then multiply by 100. For example, if sales increased from $100,000 to $120,000, the "increase compared to last year" is 20%.