This index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average 7 days in the first quarter of 2019.

ECP BUSINESS METRICS

National optical sales experienced a slight downturn across the board last week. As cases of COVID-19 increased in 37 states, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, optical sales decreased in all service/product categories on a national level for the most recent period monitored, Oct. 5-11. All categories were down -3 index points, except exams/refractions, which was down -2 index points. This follows two weeks during which optical sales on a national level remained primarily flat.

REGIONAL BREAKOUT

Optical sales were down regionally with categories in most regions declining at a rate of -3 index points. The largest regional decreases in optical sales were in the Midwest and the Northeast. The Midwest was down -5 index points for gross revenue and -6 index points for frame units and lens pairs. The Northeast was down -4 index points for gross revenue and exams/refractions. Both of these regions with the largest optical sales declines also saw increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, with 10 states in the Midwest reporting an uptick in cases and the Northeast reporting more cases in three states. However, with the West also reporting more COVID-19 cases (up in nine states), this region experienced the smallest declines of -1 index point for exams/refractions, frame units and lens pairs. Only two regional categories experienced no change whatsoever (gross revenue in the West and contact lenses in the Northeast).

*The index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average seven days in the first quarter of 2019.This index baseline is equivalent to a score of 100. All other time periods going forward are calculated as a percent increase or decrease from the 100 baseline index of that period. This index is intended to show directional and magnitudinal change that the market is experiencing. Actual index scores are arbitrary meaning the baseline of 100 is simply used as a benchmark. Jobson Research shall not be held liable for any use or misuse of the data described and/or contained herein.

Please note that practices that use practice analytic systems tend to skew a bit larger and have higher revenue than practices that do not.

Source: GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze contributed anonymous sales data used to determine gross revenue, exams/refractions, frame units, lens pairs, and contact lens boxes. Data was collected from approximately 3,500 independent eye care practices.

Consumer Sentiments

* Percentage of Rx eyewear users that are planning to postpone or cancel their Rx eyewear purchase until conditions are better. "If you need new eyeglasses or contact lenses while COVID-19 is still a threat, which of the following actions are you likely to take?"
** Selected answer option 8, 9 or 10 for the question "On a scale of 1-10 (were 1 = No concern at all and 10 = Extremely concerned) how concerned are you over the recent global COVID-19 threat and outbreak?"

Source: The Vision Council VisionWatch COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Study.

For additional information, you may reach out to GPN/EDGEPro, ABB Analyze, and The Vision Council directly.

For more information from Jobson Research contact jwaller@jobson.com.