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Trend analysis in Excel is a methodical approach of analyzing data over a period of time to identify patterns and trends. This can be performed by using various tools and functions available in Excel such as charts, pivot tables, and trendlines. The process involves organizing the data, creating a chart to visualize the data, and using Excel’s trendline function to determine the direction and strength of the trend. Additional analysis can be done by using regression analysis or moving averages to further understand the data. By performing trend analysis in Excel, users can gain valuable insights and make informed decisions based on the historical data trends.
Perform Trend Analysis in Excel (With Example)
Trend analysis is used to summarize the historical trend (or “pattern”) of data and forecast future values.
The following step-by-step example shows how to perform trend analysis in Excel.
Step 1: Create the Data
First, let’s create the following dataset in Excel that shows the total sales made by a company during 15 consecutive years:
Step 2: Create a Scatter Plot
Next, we will create a scatter plot to visualize the sales values over the years.
To do so, highlight the cell range A2:B16, then click the Insert tab along the top ribbon, then click the Insert Scatter icon in the Charts group:
The following scatter plot will appear:
The x-axis displays the years and the y-axis displays the sales for each year.
Step 3: Add a Trendline
Next, click anywhere on the scatter plot to make the chart active.
Then click the tiny green plus sign ( + ) in the top right corner of the chart and click the box next to Trendline:
In the Format Trendline panel that appears on the right side of the screen, select the button next to Linear, then check the box at the bottom next to Display Equation on chart:
A linear trendline along with a trendline equation will be displayed on the scatter plot:
Step 4: Interpret the Trendline
We can see that the trendline equation is:
y = 4.9071x + 136.21
This tells us that for each additional year, the expected total sales increases by 4.9071.
Since this value is positive, it tells us that sales (on average) increase over time.
We can also use this equation to predict the total sales for a given year in the future, assuming the trend holds.
For example, we can plug in the value 20 for x in the trendline equation to predict what the sales will be in year 20 for this company:
- y = 4.9071x + 136.21
- sales = 4.9071(20) + 136.21
- sales = 234.352
Using this equation, we predict that the total sales in year 20 will be 234.253 units.
Note: We used a linear trendline for the trend analysis in this example, but you can add a more complex trendline by clicking a different option under Trendline Options within the Format Trendline panel.
Additional Resources
The following tutorials explain how to perform other common operations in Excel: