Numbers, Trends & Statistics Vocabulary

Part 1: Numbers, Trends & Statistics Collocations

Collocations are words that naturally go together. These phrases are common when talking about numbers, trends & statistics.

Collocation	Example	Meaning
sharp increase	"There was a sharp increase in sales last quarter."	A sudden, large rise
steady decline	"The company has seen a steady decline in profits."	A gradual, continuous fall
reach a peak	"Demand reached a peak in December."	Get to the highest point
remain constant	"Prices have remained constant for months."	Stay the same, unchanged
significant drop	"There was a significant drop in attendance."	A large, noticeable fall
on average	"On average, customers spend £30 per visit."	As a typical or usual amount

Collocation	Example
statistical data	"The report is based on statistical data from 2025."
a slight rise	"There's been a slight rise in temperatures."
an upward trend	"Sales are showing an upward trend."
a downward trend	"The graph shows a downward trend since March."
fluctuate wildly	"Prices fluctuate wildly during the holiday season."

1. There was a __________ increase in sales last quarter.

2. The company has seen a __________ decline in profits.

3. Demand reached a __________ in December.

4. Prices have remained __________ for months.

5. There was a significant __________ in attendance.

Idioms add colour and natural expression to your English when talking about numbers, trends & statistics.

hit rock bottom – reach the lowest possible point "Sales hit rock bottom during the recession."
through the roof – become extremely high "Prices have gone through the roof this year."
par for the course – typical or expected "Delays like this are par for the course."
a drop in the ocean – a very small amount compared to what's needed "That donation is just a drop in the ocean."
back to square one – starting over after failure "The plan failed, so it's back to square one."
the tip of the iceberg – a small visible part of a much bigger problem "These complaints are just the tip of the iceberg."

1. Sales hit rock __________ during the recession.

2. Prices have gone through the __________ this year.

3. Delays like this are __________ for the course.

4. That donation is just a drop in the __________.

5. The plan failed, so it's back to square __________.

These phrasal verbs are commonly used when talking about numbers, trends & statistics.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
level off	stop rising or falling, become steady	"Growth has levelled off in recent months."
shoot up	increase very quickly	"Prices shot up after the announcement."
drop off	decrease	"Sales usually drop off in January."
even out	become more consistent or balanced	"The figures should even out over the year."
add up	amount to a total, or make sense	"The numbers just don't add up."

Level off and "even out" both describe a trend becoming stable - useful for describing graphs.

Shoot up is more dramatic than "increase", better for sharp changes.

Add up has two meanings: totalling a number, or making logical sense.

1. Growth has __________ off in recent months.

2. Prices __________ up after the announcement.

3. Sales usually __________ off in January.

4. The figures should __________ out over the year.

5. The numbers just don't __________ up.

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The numbers add up - you've mastered this vocabulary!