Non-PRO Homework / test Spanish to English Bus/Financial Business/Commerce (general)

The above phrase is used in this partial sentence: "...aunque explica que las ventas a superficie comparada (sin contar las nuevas aperturas del grupo) se sitúa en un tres por ciento." I have discussed this with a native Spanish speaker who knows very little English, and from that discussion (in Spanish), my guess is that the phrase means, "comparative estimated sales." Is that a correct translation? I am translating a news article about a Spanish company for an American audience (as a class exercise). Thank you