percentage point
One hundredth difference
A percentage point is the arithmetic difference between two percentages.
If interest rates rise from 3% to 5%, that's an increase of two percentage points—but an increase of about 67 percent.
The distinction matters in finance, statistics, and policy discussions where confusing the two would misrepresent the magnitude of change.
Tenths-based notation
- fractionPart divided by whole
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- ratioComparative numerical relation
- scaleMeasure of relative size
increment · unit · precision · granularity · rounding · calculation · quantification · hundredth
Produce or relinquish
- interest rateCost of borrowing money
- spreadTo distribute widely
- inflation rateSpeed of rising costs
- GDP growthOutput increase percentage
bond yield · monetary policy · fiscal policy · economic indicator · rate cut · dividend yield · return on investment · mortgage rate
Unfilled space between
- differenceWay things contrast
- differentialRelative difference between things
- spreadTo distribute widely
- marginEdge of a page
disparity · variance · lead · lag · advantage · shortfall · outperformance · underperformance
Gathering of opinions
- surveySystematic data collection
- approval ratingPublic opinion metric
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- marginEdge of a page
swing · shift · market share · sample · margin of error · tracking poll · opinion poll · favorability
decimal
Tenths-based notation
- fractionPart divided by whole
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- ratioComparative numerical relation
scale · increment · unit · precision · granularity · rounding · calculation · quantification · hundredth · margin of error
yield
Produce or relinquish
- interest rateCost of borrowing money
- spreadTo distribute widely
- inflation rateSpeed of rising costs
GDP growth · bond yield · monetary policy · fiscal policy · economic indicator · rate cut · dividend yield · return on investment · mortgage rate · prime rate
gap
Unfilled space between
- differenceWay things contrast
- differentialRelative difference between things
- spreadTo distribute widely
margin · disparity · variance · lead · lag · advantage · shortfall · outperformance · underperformance · deviation
poll
Gathering of opinions
- surveySystematic data collection
- approval ratingPublic opinion metric
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
margin · swing · shift · market share · sample · margin of error · tracking poll · opinion poll · favorability · electorate
increase
Growth in amount
gain · drop · jump · swing · shift · climb · decline · movement · fluctuation · uptick
percentage pointpercent change
Relative increase or decrease
percent increase · growth rate · basis point · rate of change
percentage, point, percent, cent, percentile, percentages, points, pointed, pointing