Describe Trends in Business English - Describing Statistics, Sales and Market Trends

Summary

This lesson teaches business English for describing trends and statistics, focusing on sales figures, market trends, and company performance. Viewers learn various verbs to describe trends like ‘increase’, ‘decrease’, and ‘fluctuate’, as well as how to describe percentages and proportions using terms like ‘account for’ and ‘make up’. The lesson also covers how to discuss rates of change and how to describe performance using terms such as ‘outperform’, ‘collapse’, and ‘challenging’. Real-world examples are provided to illustrate key language, helping learners accurately convey business data and trends in English.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sales figures can be described using various verbs such as 'increase', 'rise', 'grow', 'improve', and 'climb', with the right choice depending on context and tone.
• 😀 When describing sales changes, the phrase 'increase to' is used for reaching a specific value, while 'increase by' is used to indicate the amount of change.
• 😀 Verbs like 'decrease', 'fall', and 'drop' are common to describe declines, with 'decline' being rarer and typically used for more formal contexts.
• 😀 It's important to distinguish between percentages, proportions, and trends—specific language and modifiers are required for each type.
• 😀 To talk about proportions, common fractions like 'a third', 'a quarter', and 'a fifth' can be used, often with modifiers like 'more than' or 'less than'.
• 😀 Verbs such as 'comprise', 'account for', and 'make up' are used to describe proportions, with modifiers like 'approximately' or 'just under' adding precision.
• 😀 Describing changes in rates involves words like 'fluctuate' (for minor up-and-down changes), 'dramatic rise' (for significant increases), and 'collapse' (for a rapid, large decline).
• 😀 'Steady growth' indicates consistent progress over time, while 'gradual growth' and 'continuous growth' can also be used in similar contexts.
• 😀 In performance reports, terms like 'outperform' describe results that exceed expectations, while 'underperform' is used when results fall short.
• 😀 Sales figures can be labeled as 'strong' if they exceed expectations, and phrases like 'set a new record' are used when sales reach unprecedented levels.

Q & A

What are some common verbs used to describe an increase in sales figures?

Some common verbs used to describe an increase in sales figures include 'increase', 'rise', 'grow', 'improve', and 'climb'. Note that 'improve' is generally used for positive changes only.

How do you differentiate between using 'increase to' and 'increase by'?

'Increase to' refers to the final value after the increase, while 'increase by' indicates the amount or magnitude of the increase itself. For example, 'Sales increased to 1,000' vs. 'Sales increased by 1,000'.

What is the difference between 'fluctuate' and 'dramatic rise'?

'Fluctuate' means that the figures go up and down over time with minimal overall change, while a 'dramatic rise' refers to a sudden and significant increase in figures.

When can you use 'improve' to describe sales performance?

'Improve' is used to describe a positive change. For instance, 'Sales improved by 5 million' would be correct, but 'improve' should not be used if the sales decreased or remained steady.

What does 'steady growth' mean in the context of sales trends?

'Steady growth' refers to a consistent, uninterrupted increase over time. It suggests that the sales numbers are growing at a regular pace without major fluctuations.

What does 'collapse' mean when discussing sales figures?

'Collapse' describes a large, rapid decrease in sales figures, typically with negative connotations, such as when a company or market experiences a significant downturn.

What verbs can you use to describe a decrease in sales?

To describe a decrease in sales, you can use verbs like 'decrease', 'fall', 'drop', or 'decline'. Each can also be used with 'by' to indicate the amount of decrease (e.g., 'Sales fell by 3 million').

How do you describe percentages or proportions in business English?

To describe percentages or proportions, you can use terms like 'more than', 'less than', 'approximately', or 'just under'. For example, 'More than half of sales were vehicle insurance' or 'Life insurance comprised 10% of total sales'.

What is the meaning of 'outperform' in business reporting?

'Outperform' means to exceed expectations or perform better than anticipated. For example, 'Life insurance outperformed expectations' means the sales were better than what was predicted.

How can you describe market conditions when sales are poor?

When sales are poor, you can describe market conditions as 'challenging' or 'difficult', indicating that external factors made it harder to achieve good sales figures. For instance, 'Challenging market conditions led to a significant increase in customer acquisition costs.'