Month-on-month

Question

If someone says "Exports in December 2008 were down 39.4% on a month-on-month basis", what are December 2008 exports being compared with?Bobhttp://www.kanyak.com

Usenet · Accepted Answer

On Mar 8, 5:12=A0am, "Opinicus"
[nq:1]If someone says "Exports in December 2008 were down 39.4% on a month-on-month basis", what are December 2008 exports being compared with=? Bobhttp://www.kanyak.com[/nq]
December, 2007
GFH

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]If someone says "Exports in December 2008 were down 39.4% on a month-on-month basis", what are December 2008 exports being compared with? Bobhttp://www.kanyak.com[/nq]
[nq:1]December, 2007 GFH[/nq]
Yes. They've just started using this phrase in the news lately, and I think they should have explained it for a several days or a week when they did. It only takes 5 more words to say "the same month a year ago". I think they think they are clever for knowing a term economists use, just like in a one to one conversation where some people get satisfaction out of using words they think the other guy won't know.
I don't have much respect for the TV news system, except PBS.
Posters should say where they live, and for which
area they are asking questions. I have lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 10 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]If someone says "Exports in December 2008 were down 39.4% on a month-on-month basis", what are December 2008 exports being compared with? Bobhttp://www.kanyak.com[/nq]
[nq:1]December, 2007[/nq]
By analogy with "year-on-year" the sentence should mean that the comparison was with exports in November 2008, but it doesn't.

The OECD (the international body "Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development") uses these definitions:
YEAR-ON-YEAR CHANGES
Definition:
Year-on-year changes are changes in levels expressed over the corresponding period (month or quarter in relation to the frequency of the data) of the previous year.
Context:
Also often referred to as Year-over-year changes, or Year-to-year changes.
MONTH-ON-PREVIOUS-MONTH CHANGES
Definition:
Month-on-previous-month changes are changes in levels expressed with respect to the previous month.
Context:
Also often referred to as Month-to-month (Period-to-period) changes, or Month-over-month changes.
The OECD uses "month-on-month" in its reports without defining the term.

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]December, 2007[/nq]
[nq:1]By analogy with "year-on-year" the sentence should mean that the comparison was with exports in November 2008, but it doesn't. ... referred to as Month-to-month (Period-to-period) changes, or Month-over-month changes. The OECD uses "month-on-month" in its reports without defining the term.[/nq]
Dang. So I didn't know either. That's why I said the news should have explained it. The people who work in tv news should be ashamed of themselves. This is one of many reasons.

Posters should say where they live, and for which
area they are asking questions. I have lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 10 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]December, 2007[/nq]
[nq:1]By analogy with "year-on-year" the sentence should mean that the comparison was with exports in November 2008, but it doesn't. ... referred to as Month-to-month (Period-to-period) changes, or Month-over-month changes. The OECD uses "month-on-month" in its reports without defining the term.[/nq]
From the above I would take "month-on-month" to be an ellipsis of "month-on-previous-month".

John Varela
Trade NEWlamps for OLDlamps for email

Month-on-month

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