These charts plot multiple years on the same January–December timeline. While they’re intended to show seasonal patterns, they can be hard to interpret at a glance, especially when many years are shown. Lines overlap, cross, and compete for attention, making it difficult to clearly see what’s happening in the current market.
More importantly, these charts can unintentionally encourage comparisons that aren’t meaningful. Market conditions change over time, and visually stacking years can make normal differences look more significant—or hide important shifts that deserve attention.
We focus on chart options that are easier to read and explain, while still allowing meaningful comparisons:
Single-metric line charts that show how one metric changes over time without visual clutter
Flexible time views (weekly, monthly, quarterly, year-to-date, or annual) so users can choose the timeframe that best fits the story they’re telling
Built-in comparisons that let users view the current metric alongside a selected comparison period (such as last year or a prior timeframe), without stacking multiple years on the same chart
This approach keeps the focus on clear trend direction and timing, while avoiding overlapping lines that can distract from what’s happening in the market right now.