Comparison Report Shows Expenses as Decreasing when they Increased

Question

The comparison report, this year to last year,  shows the difference in expenses incorrectly, while it shows income correctly.  So if income went up in this year compared to last year, it shows a positive number as it should.  But for expenses, it instead shows a negative number.  For example, if auto repairs were $500 last year and are $2000 this year, the expense column shows a decrease in expenses of -$1500.   How can I fix this report and/or use a different comparison report to correctly show the difference in income and the correct difference in expenses?

[Deleted User] · Answer

@Seattle_Max mathematically a positive expense is really a negative number for calculations.  So even though the report shows the Expense section with positive numbers, the numbers are really negative.  Or vice versa, if the Expense is shown as negative, it is really a positive expense.  If you switch the signs for all the numbers in the Expense section, the math works out, and proves the numbers are being properly calculated.

splasher · Answer

The number makes sense though, expenses are a negative number and in the current year you have $-1500 of more expense.

If you think about it with that mindset it makes sense.

This reminds me of a situation years ago where the person that did the budget on paper did the calculations differently if we were in a gain vs a loss.  What they did was reverse the equation so that either way it as a positive number with the word gain or loss because the boss didn't like a minus sign in front of a number, the word gain or loss was okay, but a negative sign was taboo.  When I computerized it, I only used one equation and the negative sign prevailed to show a loss.

Tom Young · Answer

The comparison report can't be modified as to how it presents changes in income and expense.  The only workaround I could suggest is to export the report to Excel and change the behavior of the "Amount Difference" column over there.