Monthly maths problem from RTSdécouverte - Increase or decrease?

We invite you to solve the English version of the RTSdécouverte monthly problem:

Increase or decrease?

This month, we're testing your intuition about percentages.

Over ten years, the workforce increased by 20%. Over the same period the percentage of unemployed rose from 9% to 8%.

Has the number of unemployed decreased or increased in ten years?

Over a thirty year period, the price of coffee successively increased by 30%, fell by 50% and then increased again by 40%.

Overall, has the price decreased or increased and by how much?

From 100 énigmes mathématiques de tous les jours, Michel Soufflet, Vuibert, Paris, 2014.

Photo credits our member: Nikita Nikolaev