Math Help - Explaining a trend in the data.

1. Explaining a trend in the data.

Yr 1HoursDollarsRateYr 2HoursDollarsRateDeltasHrs growth$GrowthRate Difa.214.2$6,135 $28.64 a.258.3$7,292 $28.23 a.20.6%18.9%-1.4%b.152.3$6,494 $42.63 b.155.3$6,685 $43.06 b.1.9%3.0%1.0%total366.5$12,629 $34.45 total413.6$13,977 $33.80 total12.8%10.7%-1.9% Here is the situation, I have total hours and dollars for group a and b in yr 1 and 2. I calculated a rate for each group (dollars/hours), then a weighted rate for each year with the two groups combined. I am analyzing several aspects of these numbers in the 3 (delta) section. The delta section is nothing more than the growth from year 1 to year 2. The calculation is (yr2-yr1)/yr1 gives me the escalation (or de-escalation as the case may be). My question is this: How the heck is there a -1.4% movement in group a and 1.0% movement in group b and a combination of the two of -1.9%? I am baffled and distraught.. would appreciate any help on this. 2. sorry, my table is ruined when copy and pasted...here it is as a picture: [/IMG] 3. Originally Posted by cantfigurethisout Yr 1HoursDollarsRateYr 2HoursDollarsRateDeltasHrs growth$ GrowthRate Difa.214.2$6,135$28.64 a.258.3$7,292$28.23 a.20.6%18.9%-1.4%b.152.3$6,494$42.63 b.155.3$6,685$43.06 b.1.9%3.0%1.0%total366.5$12,629$34.45 total413.6$13,977$33.80 total12.8%10.7%-1.9%

Here is the situation, I have total hours and dollars for group a and b in yr 1 and 2. I calculated a rate for each group (dollars/hours), then a weighted rate for each year with the two groups combined. I am analyzing several aspects of these numbers in the 3 (delta) section. The delta section is nothing more than the growth from year 1 to year 2. The calculation is (yr2-yr1)/yr1 gives me the escalation (or de-escalation as the case may be). My question is this: How the heck is there a -1.4% movement in group a and 1.0% movement in group b and a combination of the two of -1.9%?

I am baffled and distraught.. would appreciate any help on this.
What numbers did you put together to get the "Rate Difference"?

4. rate dif is the difference in rate from yr 1 to yr 2. I believe the calc is (yr2-yr1)/yr1