Certified Professional Category Analyst (CPCA) Practice Questions 2025 – All-In-One Guide to Exam Success

The primary measurement of inventory turnover on shelves is called Days of Supply (DOS). This metric indicates how long the current inventory will last based on the sales rate. It is calculated by dividing the inventory on hand by the average sales per day, which provides insight into how efficiently inventory is being sold and replaced over time.

Dos serves as a crucial indicator for retailers and analysts to understand inventory management. A lower DOS typically suggests that inventory is selling quickly, which is often a positive sign of demand and effective merchandising, while a higher DOS may indicate overstocking or lower sales velocity.

Other measurements presented, such as Average Category Volume (ACV), Sales Per Store Per Week, and Inventory Turn Rate, do not directly measure the time inventory sits on shelves. ACV refers to the total sales volume of a product category across a specific period, measuring market coverage. Sales Per Store Per Week indicates sales performance at the store level but does not consider the quantity of inventory. Inventory Turn Rate measures how often inventory is sold and replaced over a specific period, which gives a broader view rather than focusing specifically on the time inventory is covering shelves.