This tracker measures sales trends comparing pre-pandemic, during the pandemic, and post-pandemic.

We selected 1,500 optical locations that have been operating and reporting their sales to our partners, GPN and ABB Analytics, since 2019. We re-based the index to an average week in 2019. This new index base will be used as an arbitrary benchmark and assigned a value of 100.

GROSS REVENUE 3-YEAR TREND

The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations fell last week (Aug. 30-Sept. 5) at a rate of -4 index points, likely impacted in part by the holiday weekend, although the actual Monday Labor Day holiday occurred one day after the period within which the numbers were tallied for last week (Week 36). In 2019, the actual Monday Labor Day holiday did fall within Week 36 of 2019 but not in 2020.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical sales categories decreased last week (Aug. 30-Sept. 5) when compared with the previous week (Aug. 23-Aug. 29), likely due, in part, to the holiday weekend. Although the actual Monday Labor Day holiday was not included in last week's numbers, the fact that it was a holiday weekend in part influenced the across-the-board decreases in optical sales.

SNAPSHOT

Even with the overall decrease in optical sales last week, all categories are still within 10 index points of an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). Gross revenue remains above this baseline level by 2 index points, while the other categories range from 4 index points below (lens pairs) to 10 index points below (contact lenses).

*The index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average week in 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 1,500 independent eye care practices.

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

you may also reach out to GPN/EDGEPro and ABB Analyze directly.