<p>There are <strong>percent (%)</strong> and there are <strong>percentage points (%p)</strong>.</p>
<ul>
<li>In your example, an increase from 30% to 45% is an increase of 50% and at the same time an increase of 15%p.</li>
<li>An increase in interest rate from 1% to 2% is a 100% increase and a 1%p increase at the same time.</li>
</ul>
<p>See also <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/262314/is-50-100-higher-than-25-or-is-it-25-higher-than-25/262316#262316">this thread</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-25T00:01:32.330Z
Thank you. Would 1 basis point increase therefore be a .01%p increase ?
Eoin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-25T07:02:21.527Z
@Eoin, yes, it would be.
Richard Hardy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-24T15:57:59.593Z
2023-03-24T15:57:59.593Z
Richard Hardy
<p>Say someone owns 30% of the shares of a company. Then suppose that they increase their number of shares by 50%.  This last sentence is ambiguous. It could mean that they increase their number of shares to a total of 45%, or to a total of 80%. It depends whether we 50% is relative to their current shares or to the total possible shares.</p>
<p>Are there words or terms to delineate between the two concepts?  This would apply whenever the unit of measurement is a rate, proportion, etc.  For example, inflation, interest rates, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-24T14:51:45.973Z
this seems to be english language question, not economics question
1muflon1
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-24T15:48:53.037Z
How do economists specify which meaning they are intending?
Eoin
<interest-rate><stock-market><definition>
Are there terms to separate two different notions of percentage increase?
Eoin
# Are there terms to separate two different notions of percentage increase?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-03-24)

Say someone owns 30% of the shares of a company. Then suppose that they increase their number of shares by 50%. This last sentence is ambiguous. It could mean that they increase their number of shares to a total of 45%, or to a total of 80%. It depends whether we 50% is relative to their current shares or to the total possible shares.

Are there words or terms to delineate between the two concepts? This would apply whenever the unit of measurement is a rate, proportion, etc. For example, inflation, interest rates, etc.

**Tags:** interest-rate, stock-market, definition
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: this seems to be english language question, not economics question  
> **username_0**: How do economists specify which meaning they are intending?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-03-24. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

There are **percent (%)** and there are **percentage points (%p)**.

* In your example, an increase from 30% to 45% is an increase of 50% and at the same time an increase of 15%p.
* An increase in interest rate from 1% to 2% is a 100% increase and a 1%p increase at the same time.

See also [this thread](https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/262314/is-50-100-higher-than-25-or-is-it-25-higher-than-25/262316#262316).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you. Would 1 basis point increase therefore be a .01%p increase ?  
> **username_2**: @Eoin, yes, it would be.  

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