December NPD 2018 thread

[zorg1000]

TheBlackNaruto said:
Switch did GREAT! Best Dec this gen and won the US this year! But it scares me that the jump from last year is not that big despite having Smash which is a HUGE success. Makes me think it might not have been as high if Smash had not released. XB1 solid for the sales it has been getting since release. Not great but solid. PS4 was a let down for me, Sony just didn't try this Dec and it shows. Overall a pretty Meh Dec for all 3.

One potential reason I can think of is that due to January being a 5 week month last year, it shifted the tracking periods in November's favor.

2017 tracking periods

Oct 29-Nov 25

Nov 26-Dec 30

 

2018 tracking periods

Nov 4-Dec 1

Dec 2-Jan 5

 

So basically Dec 2017 included the last week of Nov which is a big holiday shopping week (includes Cyber Monday) while Dec 2018 lacked that week and instead included the first week of January where sales drop significantly.

If 2018 had the same tracking period as 2017 than I think Nov would have been a bit lower while 2018 a bit higher and is why i guess it makes more sense to compare Nov+Dec.