When 52.8 is drawn taller than 69.1, the labels are not enough
Four benchmark bars use visibly incompatible visual lengths. The printed numbers and the geometry tell different rankings.
Three charts that ask for a publication decision
Inspect the claim and chart before opening the audit. Each case uses published values in a neutral reconstruction so the evidence stays separate from the publisher’s visual identity
Schematic recreation · Publisher styling not reproduced Schematic recreation · Publisher styling not reproduced The bars looked nearly 2× apart. The values were 1.24% apart
A cropped baseline greatly amplifies a one-million-ton difference between two annual production values.
Schematic recreation · Publisher styling not reproduced The labels say +2 points. The cropped bars tell a louder story
Two percentages differ by two points, while a 50% baseline turns the improvement into a much larger visual jump.