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

For the second week in a row optical sales on a national level remained flat. All service/product categories being tracked (except exams/refractions) showed no change for the most recent week for which metrics were monitored (Sept. 28-Oct 4) when compared with the previous week (Sept. 21-27). Only exams/refractions experienced any change whatsoever when comparing the two weeks monitored, and that was a negligible -1 index point.

REGIONAL BREAKOUT

Regionally, optical sales were varied during the most recent week tracked (Sept. 28-Oct. 4). The Northeast and South were primarily flat with negligible differences of only +1 or -1 index point in the categories that experienced any change. The Midwest experienced the largest increases in optical sales over this past week, ranging from 1 index point for gross revenue to 3 index points for frame units. Contact lenses was the only category to decrease in the Midwest, at a rate of -2 index points. The West had the greatest declines in optical sales over this past week, ranging from -3 index points for gross revenue and exams/refractions to -4 index points for frame units and lens pairs. Contact lenses was the only category to increase in the West, at a rate of 2 index points. With both the Midwest and West having nine states each reporting increasing numbers of cases of COVID-19 (according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center), and with the Midwest increasing in most service/product categories while the West declined, it appears that wildfires in the West are having more of an impact on optical sales than the pandemic spreading in both Census regions.

*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.