We have had official numbers for a while now and it stands at 5.3 million, so why is it that the numbers are still short by 110,000, even if you take the numbers to be EXACLY 5.3? Sony have said they're OVER 5.3, so I'm assuming the numbers should really be adjust up by about 150,000.

I'd say the numbers were/are pretty accurate at the moment but surely it makes sense to keep track now and not later.

Shipped versus sold to consumers.

This is something that VGC has been separating since they started and yet the site keeps seeing the same questions regarding the difference.

About 100k units in wholesale and retail supply channels worldwide confirms just how tight supplies are due to demand. That's between 2-3 days worth of inventory.

Dunno. But I am impressed by VGC's hardware accuracy... Can't say the same for software though.

The 5.3 million number is NOT shipped, it's 'sold through'. If it was shipped, I wouldn't be asking the question.

These numbers are SOLD not shipped

Sony does not track units sold to consumer hands. When consoles leave the factory, they do so upon orders made from distributers. In other words sold to distributors.

VGC, on the other hand, counts unit being delivered from retail outlets to consumers. 

Jesus. When you are selling out everywhere, it's easy to keep track of what you are actually selling to customers.

Amazon order 100,000 units. The following week they order another 100,000 units. That's 200,000 shipped and 100,000 'sold through'.

Can you comprehend the concept that it takes a few days to transport inventory from the factory to distributors and then retail outlets?

Obviously, they're not transported instantaneously into stores and I hope no one is under the impression that factories only spit out inventory every 2-3 days. 

I can comprehend that, yes. Can you comprehend that Sony will have 'shipped' more than the number they say they have sold?

Sony were explicit to say "sold through" in their release, so I don't know why argue about it.