kvartaltilkvartal

Kvartaltilkvartal is a term used in finance and economics to describe quarter-to-quarter comparisons of a metric, typically expressed as a percentage change from the previous quarter. It denotes how much a value has increased or decreased from one quarter to the next, such as revenue, profit, or GDP. The word combines kvartal (quarter) with til (to) in Norwegian or Danish, and the compound form is a neologism reflecting the same concept as quarter-to-quarter in English.

Calculation and data: Kvartaltilkvartal figures are usually computed as [(Qn − Qn−1) / Qn−1] × 100%. Data may be reported in raw terms or as seasonally adjusted figures to remove predictable quarterly effects. Seasonally adjusted kvartaltilkvartal changes are common in macroeconomic reporting; unadjusted changes can be volatile due to seasonality.

Relation to other measures: Kvartaltilkvartal is distinct from year-over-year (YoY) comparisons, which compare the current quarter with the same quarter in the previous year. Analysts often examine both QoQ and YoY to assess short-term momentum and longer-term growth, using smoothing or moving averages where appropriate.

Applications and limitations: The measure is widely used in corporate earnings reporting and economic indicators. It provides timely insight but can be distorted by one-off items, accounting changes, or seasonal effects. Because of volatility, long-run trends are often more informative than a single quarterly change.

See also: QoQ, YoY, seasonality, quarterly reporting.