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
[email protected] • (303) 866-3446
www.leg.colorado.gov/lcs