This measures the ratio of sales versus prior year. While sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.
Compare to raw sales; significant increase may signal a year exhibiting overstatement. Equivalent to year-to-year percentage change comparison.
Beneish is clear to state that sales growth is not indicative of earnings manipulation. However, growth companies are viewed by experts as more likely to commit earnings manipulations because of the pressures placed on them (ie; capital needs). In additions, solid internal controls may lag behind operations in periods of high growth.
Therefore, Beneish concludes that the managing the perception of continuing growth and capital needs from actual growth could predispose a company to manipulate sales and earnings.