[bert]

.....calling last year’s results a “spike”....

Or some might call it dirt that finally spilled out under the edge of the rug. If you sweep dirt under the rug too many times, eventually it sifts out around the edges.

[RSmithOpt]

The results of all them years of the 'new math', as you said.

Simply ignore certain facts within the data so one's feelings can be stroked. Numbers don't lie, people do.