NEW YORK—According to Jobson Optical Research’s latest Optical Business Barometer (OBB) report, the overall optical business rating in July 2014 rose to 3.77, a very slight increase from the June 2014 rating of 3.76. The July 2014 rating also shows an increase from the July 2013 rating of 3.63, the July 2012 and 2011 ratings of 3.66 and the July 2010 of 3.55.

The confidence rating, measuring independent eyecare professionals' outlook for overall optical retail business for the upcoming six months, lowered to 3.80 in July from a June 2014 rating of 3.86. However, the July 2014 rating compares to a July 2013 rating of 3.72, July 2012 rating of 3.71, July 2011 rating of 3.70 and July 2010 rating of 3.61, showing gradual increase in ECP confidence for the month of July over time.

According to the latest report, monthly scores for eyeglasses, exams and contact lenses all showed increase for July 2014. Year-to-date average ratings for the period January through July 2014 were unchanged for eyeglasses, which stood at 3.68 for the period 2014, 2013 and 2012. Average ratings for exams increased to 3.77 for the period January through July 2014, from a 3.73 rating in 2013 and a 3.74 rating for the period in 2012. Year-to-date average ratings for contact lenses stood at 3.59 for the period 2014, a slight increase from the same period in 2013 which stood at 3.57, and from the period in 2012 which stood at 3.58.

Jobson's OBB report is further compared to the Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board, which showed an increase in July to 90.9 from a revised 86.4 in June. 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.

The 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.