The January 2015 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,052,441 is now the second highest January on record for the 16-year-old system, with an increase of 8.4 percent compared to the January 2014 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 970,510. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2015 NICS figure of 1,763,233 reflects a 6.8 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,650,565 in January 2014.

The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks used by several states such as Connecticut, Illinois, and Utah for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases.

Though not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide a more accurate picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions of firearms sales and transfers on new and used handguns and long guns.