A running total tells you how much has piled up, while a rate of change shows...

https://scarlettsbrilliantinsight.scriblorax.com/posts/why-does-the-start-time-matter-for-a-t

A running total tells you how much has piled up, while a rate of change shows how fast it’s growing. With parcel counts or rainfall, the article explains why units matter and how a daily rate differs from a weekly total over the same span.