NEW YORK—According to the Optical Business Barometer report from
Jobson Optical Research, the overall optical business rating in August 2014 rose to 3.88 from a July 2014 rating of 3.77. The latest rating also shows rise from previous August ratings of 3.72 in 2013, 3.72 in 2012, 3.68 in 2011 and 3.67 in 2010, showing a consistent upward trend for the month of August over time.
The confidence rating, measuring independent eyecare professionals' outlook for overall optical retail business for the upcoming six months, rose to 3.94 in August 2014 from a July 2014 rating of 3.80. The August 2014 rating of 3.94 is the highest for the month of August since the measurement began, comparing to a 3.72 in August 2013, a 3.69 in August 2012, a 3.62 rating in August 2011 and a 3.53 rating in August 2010, showing a consistent rise in confidence over time.
SOURCE: Jobson Optical Research Business Barometer for August 2014The August 2014 monthly scores for eyeglasses, exams and contact lenses also showed increases from August 2013: the rating for eyeglasses rose from 3.68 in August 2013 to 3.85 in 2014; the rating for exams rose from 3.76 in 2013 to 3.94 in 2014; and the rating for contact lenses rose from 3.59 to 3.76.
Year-to-date average ratings for January through August 2014 for eyeglasses, exams and contact lenses each rose since the same period in 2013. For eyeglasses, year-to-date average rating stood at 3.70, comparing to 3.68 in 2013 and 2012. For exams, the rating stood at 3.79 in 2014 compared to 3.73 in 2013 and 3.75 in 2012. For contact lenses, the rating stood at 3.62 compared to a 3.57 rating in 2013 and a 3.59 rating in 2012.
SOURCE: Jobson Optical Research Business Barometer for August 2014Regional scores for the overall optical year-to-date average rating stood at 3.90 for the South, 3.70 for the Midwest, 3.69 for the West and 3.65 for the Northeast.
Jobson's OBB report is further compared to the
Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board, which showed an increase in August to 94.2 from a revised 90.3 in July. The high point of the Consumer Confidence Index occurred in January 2000 at 144.7 and the low point in February 2009 at 25.3.
SOURCE: Jobson Optical Research Business Barometer for August 2014The Optical Business Barometer is a monthly study of a representative sample of independent optical retailers (single locations and groups of no more than three locations) designed to gauge the optical business trends of eyecare professionals at these locations and to provide them with a comparative "how's business" benchmark. It is conducted online by Jobson Optical Research based on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is very negative, 3 is neutral and 5 is very positive.
For more information, visit
jobsonresearch.com/obb or contact Jennifer Zupnick at (212) 274-7164 or
jzupnick@jobson.com.