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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jobson Optical Research is tracking national and regional optical business metrics for the U.S.

ECP BUSINESS METRICS

Now in its fourth week of growth, the U.S. optical business continues its upward trend in all product/service categories.

Sales Growth Continues
Nationally, both gross revenue and lens pairs more than doubled from 22 index points to 46 index points and from 21 index points to 45 index points, respectively. Growing even faster, exams/refractions increased at a rate of 2.5x from 16 index points to 40 index points. Also experiencing an increase in sales, contact lens sales grew at a rate of 1.4x from 38 index points to 53 index points.

Extrapolating the national gross revenue metrics alone, based on the last four weeks of exponential market improvement, the category is expected to continue increasing.

REGIONAL BREAKOUT

Regionally, improvements in service/product sales were robust across the board, with some regions clearly leading in the overall business upswing. By far, the Midwest experienced the strongest growth, adding more than 30 index points in all product/service categories, except contact lenses. This was followed by solid improvement in the South, growing at a rate that added index points in the mid-20 range in all categories, except contact lenses. The West and Northeast also showed increased sales, albeit at lower rates.

* 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.

Source: GPN 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.

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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: February and March editions

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

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