Dynamic Total Labels in Stacked Column Chart: Summing Percentages vs. Re-calculating YoY

[AlonCarmel]

Hi everyone,

I'm facing a challenge with the Total Labels behavior in a Stacked Column Chart when switching between absolute values and YoY (Year over year) percentages.

The Setup: I have a report where users can toggle between two views using a calculation group/slicer:

1. Value View: Displays amounts in millions (e.g., CSM balance).

2. YoY View: Displays the year-over-year growth percentage.

The chart uses a Legend (Sub_Segment: FVA, MRA, etc.) to show the breakdown of these figures.

The Problem:

• Value View (Satisfied): When "Value" is selected, the chart works perfectly. The segments are stacked, and the Total Label correctly shows the sum of the amounts (e.g., 100M + 30M = 130M). This is the expected behavior.

• YoY View (Unsatisfied): When "YoY" is selected, the individual segments correctly show their respective YoY growth (e.g., 18%, -29%). However, the Total Label simply sums these percentages (e.g., 18% + (-29%) = -11% or similar), which is mathematically incorrect for growth rates, i want it to present the YOY for the Company (X- AXIS).

What I Need: I understand that the Stacked Column Chart is designed to sum the values of the segments for the total label. However, for the YoY view, I need the Total Label to re-calculate the YoY at the total level (Total Current Year / Total Previous Year - 1) instead of summing the individual segment percentages.

I've attached two screenshots:

1. Value View:  Showing the correct summation of amounts.

2. YoY View: Showing the incorrect summation of percentages in the Total Label.

My Question: Is there a known workaround to dynamically change the logic of the Total Label (perhaps via DAX or a specific visual setting) so it displays a re-calculated aggregate only when the YoY view is active?

Any creative solutions would be greatly appreciated!

[Olufemi7 · Accepted solution]

Hello @AlonCarmel, 
This is by design in Power BI.
Stacked column charts always aggregate the values in the visual. Total labels do not evaluate a separate measure; they simply display that aggregation.
That’s why:
Value view works (values are additive)
YoY view does not (percentages are not additive)
So the total label is effectively summing the segment YoY values instead of recalculating YoY at the total level.
There is no way to change this behavior using DAX or formatting.
Official reference:
Visualizations overview in Power BI 
Workarounds:
Use a line and stacked column chart (columns for segment YoY and a line for the correct total YoY)
Or turn off total labels and show the correct total separately (for example, with a card or tooltip)

[AlonCarmel]

@Olufemi7 @JID_KB @majid154a @Ben_jdc @lbendlin