[Bug]: Custom reports average spending spread across months with no transactions #1239

New Issue

GiteaMirror · 2026-02-28T19:37:06-06:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-02-28 19:37:06 -06:00

Originally created by @rockoo on GitHub (Jul 16, 2024).

Verified issue does not already exist?

I have searched and found no existing issue
I will be providing steps how to reproduce the bug (in most cases this will also mean uploading a demo budget file)

What happened?

When using custom reports for a specific category the "average spending" interval is spread across months selected even when there are no transactions for those months.

Steps to reproduce:

go to custom reports
choose a category
click to show summary
choose range (include months that have no transactions)

Expected
Show the average based on actual transactions

Actual
the average spending is calculated across the range even when the months have no transactions. i.e. if i choose 4 months with $2000 in transactions but those $2000 is only in the last two months the average will be caluclated as AMOUNT / MONTHS (or interval chosen). This is misleading and not actual spending

Where are you hosting Actual?

Docker

What browsers are you seeing the problem on?

No response

Operating System

Linux

Originally created by @rockoo on GitHub (Jul 16, 2024). ### Verified issue does not already exist? - [X] I have searched and found no existing issue - [X] I will be providing steps how to reproduce the bug (in most cases this will also mean uploading a demo budget file) ### What happened? When using custom reports for a specific category the "average spending" interval is spread across months selected even when there are no transactions for those months. **Steps to reproduce:** 1. go to custom reports 2. choose a category 3. click to show summary 4. choose range (include months that have no transactions) **Expected** Show the average based on actual transactions **Actual** the average spending is calculated across the range even when the months have no transactions. i.e. if i choose 4 months with $2000 in transactions but those $2000 is only in the last two months the average will be caluclated as AMOUNT / MONTHS (or interval chosen). This is misleading and not actual spending ### Where are you hosting Actual? Docker ### What browsers are you seeing the problem on? _No response_ ### Operating System Linux

GiteaMirror added the bug label 2026-02-28 19:37:06 -06:00

GiteaMirror closed this issue

2026-02-28 19:37:07 -06:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-02-28 19:37:07 -06:00

@carkom commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2024):

I see your point. However there is a counter-point to consider. If I usually spend $100 a month in a category over the course of 6 months but for two of those months I spend $0, I'd consider my average spending over that 6 month period to be $400 / 6 months or $66.66 per month.

In your case you're measuring this scenario as $100 per non-zero month or $100 per month (only counting months where something was spent).

I think the current equation is much more understandable for the average (non-math oreiented) individual.

@carkom commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2024): I see your point. However there is a counter-point to consider. If I usually spend $100 a month in a category over the course of 6 months but for two of those months I spend $0, I'd consider my average spending over that 6 month period to be $400 / 6 months or $66.66 per month. In your case you're measuring this scenario as $100 per non-zero month or $100 per month (only counting months where something was spent). I think the current equation is much more understandable for the average (non-math oreiented) individual.

GiteaMirror commented

2026-02-28 19:37:08 -06:00

@carkom commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2024):

Another way to look at it: If you get paid $2000 every other week and you were asked "how much do you get paid weekly" would you say "I get paid $2000 per non-zero week and I'm paid every other week" or would you say "I get paid $1000 per week" or maybe you'd say "I don't get paid weekly, I get paid $2000 every other week".

No matter how you answer the above question, we are creating a software to work for a wide range of people. Some people spend every month some spend in fits and spurts and may not use a category for a couple months at all but ultimately we need a metric that can work for the largest group of people possible and be as simple and understandable as possible.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions. I'm closing this as the metric is working as intended.

@carkom commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2024): Another way to look at it: If you get paid $2000 every other week and you were asked "how much do you get paid weekly" would you say "I get paid $2000 per non-zero week and I'm paid every other week" or would you say "I get paid $1000 per week" or maybe you'd say "I don't get paid weekly, I get paid $2000 every other week". No matter how you answer the above question, we are creating a software to work for a wide range of people. Some people spend every month some spend in fits and spurts and may not use a category for a couple months at all but ultimately we need a metric that can work for the largest group of people possible and be as simple and understandable as possible. I hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions. I'm closing this as the metric is working as intended.