How to Use the Comparison Tool

The Bread Index comparison tool lets you analyze multiple regions side-by-side to understand relative performance and affordability.

Getting Started

Navigate to the comparison page to begin your analysis.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Select Regions

Click the region dropdown to select areas you want to compare. You can:

• Compare neighboring regions
• Analyze different parts of the country
• Look at parent vs child regions (e.g., England vs London)

Tip: Start with 2-3 regions for clearer visualizations.

2. Choose a Metric

Select which metric to analyze:

• Average Price: Raw house prices in pounds
• Bread Loaves: Affordability in terms of everyday goods
• Annual Change: Year-over-year percentage growth

3. Toggle Real Terms

Use the "Show Real Terms" checkbox to:

• On: See inflation-adjusted values (true purchasing power)
• Off: See nominal values (actual prices paid)

Why it matters: Real terms show whether houses are truly becoming more expensive or if it's just inflation.

4. Analyze the Chart

The line chart shows trends over time for all selected regions:

• Peaks and valleys: Identify market booms and busts
• Convergence/divergence: See if regions are becoming more or less similar
• Relative performance: Which regions are outperforming or underperforming

5. Review the Table

Scroll down to see detailed statistics:

• Latest values: Most recent data point
• Min/Max: Range of values over the time period
• Average: Mean value across all data points

Example Analyses

First-Time Buyer Comparison

Compare regions you're considering for your first home:

• Select 3-4 target areas
• View "Salary Multiple" metric
• Use real terms to see true affordability trends

Investment Analysis

Identify high-growth regions:

• Compare major cities
• View "Annual Change" metric
• Look for consistent upward trends

Regional Context

Understand your local area:

• Compare your region with its parent region
• Compare with neighboring areas
• View long-term trends in bread loaves

Sharing Your Analysis

The URL updates as you select regions, so you can bookmark or share specific comparisons with others.

Tips for Best Results

• Limit selections: Too many regions make the chart hard to read
• Use real terms: For long-term comparisons, real terms are more accurate
• Check data coverage: Some regions may have gaps in historical data
• Compare similar types: Cities with cities, rural with rural

Start exploring the comparison tool now!