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

Optical sales on a national level were flat over the past week for which metrics have been tracked (Sept. 21-27). The only discernible change in optical sales was in the category of contact lenses, which experienced a decline of -2 index points over this past week when compared with the previous week tracked (Sept. 14-20). Except contact lenses, which are on their own trajectory due to online sales, all service/product categories on a national level are within only 10 index points of where they stood prior to stay-at-orders first being introduced.

REGIONAL BREAKOUT

With states in all four Census regions reporting increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, optical sales were flat throughout the country, except contact lenses, which experienced some minor declines. Contact lens sales were down -3 index points in the Northeast and West, -2 index points in the South and -1 index point in the Midwest. Otherwise, little movement was experienced in regional optical sales across the board, with changes ranging from only -2 index points to +2 index points, with declines seen primarily in the Midwest.

*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.