NEW YORK—The June 2013 overall optical business rating of 3.69 reflects an increase in positive attitudes toward business among independent ECPs, according to the latest Optical Business Barometer, a monthly index from Jobson Optical Research. The rating compares to the May 2013 rating of 3.65. The June 2013 rating is slightly lower than the June 2012 rating of 3.70, but shows significant increase from June 2011 and June 2010 ratings, which stood at 3.62 and 3.43, respectively.

The average overall optical business rating for the period of January through June 2013 stands at 3.72, showing a slight decrease from the average of the same period in 2012, which stood at 3.75. However, the average shows increase for the same period in 2011 and 2010, which stood at 3.62 and 3.54, respectively.

 

The ECP confidence rating toward their overall optical retail business for the upcoming 6 months remained steady the May 2013 rating, standing at 3.82 for June 2013. This outlook rating compares to a 3.78 in June 2012, a 3.72 in June 2011 and a 3.48 in June 2010, showing a consistent increase in confidence over the past three years.

Independent ECPs’ rating of eyeglass business in June 2013 remained steady with May 2013, indexing at 3.64. The rating for eye exams increased from 3.62 in May to 3.71 in June, and the rating for their contact lens business increased from a 3.52 to a 3.53.

The average score for eyeglasses for the period of January through June 2013 stood at 3.69 this month, remaining consistent with this period in 2012. This score stood at 3.56 in 2011 and 3.48 in 2010.

The average rating for exams for the period January through June 2013 stood at 3.72 as compared to a 3.73 for the same period 2012, a 3.62 for the same period 2011 and a 3.52 for the same period 2010.

 

The average score for contact lenses for the period January through June 2013 stood at 3.57, showing a slight decrease from the same period in 2012, which stood at 3.59. The average rating for contact lenses stood at 3.48 for this period in 2011 and 3.45 in 2010.

The overall optical rating among independents for January through June 2013 by U.S. census region stood at 3.77 for the Northeast, 3.87 for the South, 3.66 for the Midwest and 3.62 for the West.

The Optical Business Barometer (OBB) is further compared to findings from the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Survey. The latest Consumer Confidence Index revealed an increase in June to 81.4 as compared to a revised 74.3 rating for May. The Consumer Confidence Index reached its highest point in January 2000 with a rating of 144.7 and its lowest point in February 2009 with a rating of 25.3.

 
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The OBB is a monthly survey designed to gauge the optical business by studying a representative sample of independent optical retailers (single locations or groups of no more than three locations) and measuring the trends of eyecare professionals at these locations. It is conducted online by Jobson Optical Research and is 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 or contact Jennifer Zupnick at 212-274-7164 or jzupnick@jobson.com.