Percent change
A change measured relative to the starting value. Because each change is a percentage of a different starting point, percentages don't simply add up.
In plain English
50% off and then another 50% off is 75% off, not 100%, because the second discount is taken from the reduced price. The same maths explains why a 50% loss needs a 100% gain to break even.
Uncle Gary explains
Kevin's savings fell 50% in a crypto adventure, then rose 50% the next month. Kevin announced he was back to where he started. He had 75% of his money. Nobody told him.
Why it matters for your money
Big losses need even bigger gains to recover. Avoiding them matters more than chasing big wins.
Where we tested it
- Is 50% Off Actually Saving You Money?
- Are Black Friday Deals Really Saving You Money? We Each Saved 30%
- Misleading Graphs: The Chart That Starts at 97
Related terms
All glossary terms. Educational content, not financial advice.