Which analysis method allows a comparison of current sales data against historical data?

The analysis method that allows for a comparison of current sales data against historical data is benchmarking. Benchmarking involves measuring the performance of current data against established standards or historical data to assess progress and identify trends. By analyzing how current sales figures stack up against past performance, organizations can evaluate their growth, spot patterns, and make informed decisions to enhance their strategies. This method is particularly useful for setting performance goals based on past achievements and understanding whether the business is improving or declining.

Predictive forecasting focuses more on predicting future trends based on existing data rather than comparing current and historical figures. Data versioning is about managing different snapshots of data over time, which doesn't inherently provide comparison insights. Variance analysis involves examining the difference between expected and actual performance, but it may not always involve direct historical comparisons as a benchmarking approach would. Thus, benchmarking is the most suitable method for directly comparing current sales data against historical records.