Previous corresponding period

Also known as: pcp

Previous corresponding period (pcp) in statistical analysis is a comparable period prior to the time period in which data is being analyzed. The previous corresponding period makes it possible to compare performance with the recent past to determine progress and other trends.

For example, sales figures for the current year can be compared with the same period last year. For example, to make a forecast for the entire year based on the figures up to that point. Or to compare the visitors to a website in the past 30 days with the same period immediately before to get a representative picture of the development of traffic.

Determining a representative comparison period is not done randomly. To analyze and compare trends within a period, it is important that the chosen periods match well. You often see a natural difference between months in statistics because of the length in days and fluctuation in interest over the year. Therefore, performance in a month is often compared not with the month before, but with the same month a year earlier. Similarly, it may be desirable to have both periods begin on the same weekday to eliminate differences between the weekend and the work week.