In some cases, raw values may be less important than relative changes over time.
What are the trends? Related to change over time, trends can also highlight velocity (how quickly something is changing).
What is the difference before and after? Not just change over time, but at two points in time—often before and after an event or a legal or policy change.
Socio-economic data can be compared over time to indicate progress or deterioration in the protection of rights and whether disparities are increasing or decreasing. Simple counts or event-based data collected at different points can also show trends over time.