Excel Techniques

for Data Visualization

NCSL Fiscal Analyst Seminar

October 11, 2018

Portland, Oregon

Kate Watkins

Chief Economist

Colorado Legislative Council

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Why Excel?

Widely used: Wealth of online tutorials

Accessible: Cost, ease of use

Stepping stone: Tableau, R, ArcGIS

It’s more powerful than you think…

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/

the-first-rule-of-microsoft-

exceldont-tell-anyone-youre-

good-at-it-

1538754380?mod=searchres

ults&page=1&pos=2

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Nonfarm Employment

Percent Change, Year-over-Year

VT

NH

MA

RICT

MD

DE

D.C.

NJ

Demo/Workshop

UNRATE U4RATE

lin Percent lin Percent

M Monthly M Monthly

01/01/2008 1948-01-01 to 2018-08-0101/01/2008 1994-01-01 to 2018-08-01

Civilian Unemployment Rate Special Unemployment Rate: Unemployed and Discouraged Workers

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

date value date value

01/01/2008 5.0 01/01/2008 5.3

02/01/2008 4.9 02/01/2008 5.1

03/01/2008 5.1 03/01/2008 5.3

04/01/2008 5.0 04/01/2008 5.2

05/01/2008 5.4 05/01/2008 5.7

06/01/2008 5.6 06/01/2008 5.8

07/01/2008 5.8 07/01/2008 6.1

08/01/2008 6.1 08/01/2008 6.3

09/01/2008 6.1 09/01/2008 6.4

10/01/2008 6.5 10/01/2008 6.8

11/01/2008 6.8 11/01/2008 7.2

12/01/2008 7.3 12/01/2008 7.7

Adjust Date

CHART PARAMETERS

• Exploratory analysis (for ourselves)

• Choosing and building effective visuals (for others)

• Building dynamic tools

• Leveraging automated data collection

Since 2004

Food and beverages H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2

H/H 0.5 -0.2 2.2 0.9 1.7 #N/A

Y/Y 0.4 0.3 2.0 3.2 2.6 #N/A

Annual

Housing

H/H 3.4 2.6 2.5 2.0 1.4 #N/A

Y/Y 5.7 6.1 5.1 4.5 3.4 #N/A

Annual

Apparel

H/H 1.6 -3.1 -3.9 7.6 -3.7 #N/A

Y/Y 4.4 -1.5 -6.8 3.4 3.7 #N/A

Annual 1.4 -1.8 #N/A

5.9 4.8 #N/A

0.3 2.6 #N/A

2016 2017 2018Colorado Population by Age and Gender

60,000 40,000 20,000 0 20,000 40,000 60,000

05

10152025303540455055606570758085

90+ Male Female

2020

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Which chart should I use?

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Resources & Tools

Keyboard ShortcutsSave time and clicks: https://exceljet.net/keyboard-shortcuts

TutorialsGoogle is there for you. Also, try: https://digitaldefynd.com/best-excel-tutorial-training-course-classes/

Build a MapTableau Public: http://public.tableau.com/en-us/s/

Data AutomationFRED: http://fred.stlouisfed.org/

FRED Excel Add-in: http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred-addin/

InspirationRead Hans Rosling’s Factfulness or Edward Tufte’s works

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Summary and Takeaways

Goal: Make data easy to understand

• Simplify and beautify visual information

• Tell a true story

Longer-term goals

• Build dynamic analytical tools

• Leverage data automation and reporting

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Questions?

Kate WatkinsChief Economist • Legislative Council Staff

kate.watkins@state.co.us • (303) 866-3446

www.leg.colorado.gov/lcs