Explain negative percent on negative to positive sales

Question

Hi I have a question about how do I explain a negative percent for sales that is positive compared to negative sales the prior year? Last sales was a -$1,296.00 and this year sales is $356.00 but when doing this formula of =(this year - last year)/last year the result is a negative percent. How do I explain the formula is correct although the sales is an increase?

Answer 1

(356 - -1296)/ | -1296|

= (356 + 1296)/1296

= 1652/1296

= 1.27863....

= 127.863....%

the sales INCREASED by over 127%