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 Analyze, 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 rebound last week (Nov. 29-Dec. 5) following the previous week’s sharp declines during the Thanksgiving holiday. In fact, gross revenue not only regained the -35 index points it lost during the Thanksgiving week (Nov. 22-28), but it also added an additional 6 index points with its 41 index point increase.

BUSINESS METRICS

All optical categories experienced large increases in sales last week as they recovered the losses they experienced during the Thanksgiving holiday. When comparing last week with the previous week, increases ranged from 33 index points (contact lenses) to 41 index points (gross revenue).

SNAPSHOT

All optical sales' sharp increases last week not only regained the previous week’s losses, but they also brought more categories to levels above an average week in 2019 (the index baseline assigned a value of 100 for this Optical Business Tracker). Now, all categories, except contact lenses, are above an average week in 2019, and the contact lenses category is within only 6 index points of that benchmark at a level of 94 index points.

*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.