Certified Professional Category Analyst (CPCA) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct term for short-term spikes in sales resulting from promotional activities is incremental sales. These spikes reflect the additional sales that occur beyond the expected baseline during a promotional event or marketing campaign. Incremental sales allow businesses to assess the effectiveness of their promotional strategies by differentiating between regular sales volume and the additional sales generated due to specific marketing efforts.

Base sales refers to the typical sales level a product experiences without any promotional influence. While promoted sales may suggest sales that occur due to promotion, it does not specifically denote the short-term increase; thus, it might create confusion. Assessment sales is not a widely recognized term in the context of sales spikes resulting from promotions.

Understanding that incremental sales captures the idea of "extra" sales resulting from promotions emphasizes the impact of marketing strategies on overall sales performance. This distinction is vital for businesses to gauge the success of their promotional efforts accurately.