Statistics lie!

I've always told my students - statistics lie.

I'm amazed at how subtle little massages to the data or even to the way the data is presented can create an illusion that conveys to the reader what is intended. While reading the newspaper today, I came across this little notice on the straits times that the electricity tariffs are going to go up again. Usual suspect for the rise in tariffs - high fuel price. It then proceed to put a table, after which a chart is drawn.

Guess which one of the 3 below is shown in the straits times?




I copied the data and put it on an excel spreadsheet. While the data values remain the same, the scale of the graph is different for all 3. Hence, for anyone who didn't take a closer look at the scale of the graph, they would have made some major error in their quick perusal of the charts.

1. In the first chart, it seems that the electricity tariffs are shooting up faster than the fuel oil price.

2. In the second chart, it seems that the electricity tariffs are climbing as fast as the fuel oil price, but resting slightly below it.

3. In the third and last chart, it seems that electricity tariffs are pretty constant while the fuel oil price fluctuates wildly.

No prizes for guessing which of the chart above is used for the straits times :)