Running / Intermediate Total Waterfalls

A running total waterfall chart is effective in visualizing how different components contribute to a cumulative total over time or across various categories. This type of chart starts with an initial value, which serves as the baseline. As you add or subtract subsequent values, the chart visually demonstrates how each individual component affects the overall cumulative total. This method is particularly useful for financial analysis, such as income statements, where it’s crucial to understand the impact of each revenue and expense item.

The running total waterfall chart is the default setup for Innofalls Charts. It will be chosen automatically if applicable or you can set it manually:

Example Use Cases:

Income Statements

Perfect for illustrating how different revenue and expense items add up to the net income.

Project Management

Visualize the accumulation of costs or resources over the duration of a project to monitor progress and identify potential issues early.

The chart begins with an initial value, such as the starting revenue or initial balance. From there, each bar in the chart represents an incremental step, either positive or negative, showing how individual items contribute to the total. For example, in an income statement, you might start with total revenues, then subtract costs of products, costs of services, and other expenses to arrive at a net income figure.

By effectively utilizing intermediate totals, you can gain a clear and concise summary of key data segments. In the next section, we will explain the two types of totals: intermediate totals and subtotals.