In the 2025 Annual Inflation Report, there was a happy story in 'bars' that needed to be told.
What I like:
- Data labels so one can use it in recreating the chart.
- Legend was at the top (was eliminated but this is better than most diagrams leaving them in the default position which is beneath the chart)
What will I change?
- Axis titles:
- y-axis title: Include "Inflation" title and % to communicate the values are percentages.
- x-axis title: 2025 moved to be an x-axis title as the data spans the same year no need to include it in each month
- Highlight the drastic drop in May - June
- Capture that as the story in the title
- Match the background colour of the title with the line between May and June.
- Include the inflation details for these months for both categories
- Include the series titles directly on the lines.
- Provide details of story as a description beneath the title.
- End with the inflation numbers for both series at the end of the year with minimal emphasis on them.
Before:
After:
Tools: Excel
References:
- FIGURE 2.2: GOODS VS SERVICES INFLATION (% YOY), JAN.-DEC. 2025 - Annual Inflation Report (Page 21)
- Exchange Rate Details - Bank of Ghana
- Jan to Dec monthly gold prices - Stat Muse
