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NEW YORK —A shorter week due to the Memorial Day holiday may have contributed to a decrease in the single-digit range of 7 or 9 index points for the sales of all products and services among eyecare professionals across the U.S. for the week ending May 31, according to the latest Jobson COVID-19 Practice Performance Tracker. The downturn followed double digit growth experienced during the previous week, showing that those larger steps forward as practices start to reopen are now being followed by the current week’s smaller steps back. The decline was seen in eye exams, as well as in sales for frames, lenses and contact lenses in the four-day business week.

On a regional basis, the South and Midwest experienced the largest declines, with decreases hovering around 10 index points in most service/product categories. The West declined at a rate of about half the South and Midwest. While the Northeast held its own, remaining primarily flat across most service/product categories (except contact lenses, which fell 5 index points), it still remains behind the rest of the country overall by 10 or more index points in all product/service categories.

Consumers experienced a slight increase in their overall concern about coronavirus, while the percentage of consumers considering postponing their eyewear purchases remained relatively stable to the prior week's Performance Tracker.

The Jobson COVID-19 Practice Performance Tracker data is compiled by Jobson Research from GPN and ABB Analyze data. Another element of the report illustrates Consumer Sentiments about the COVID-19 response and purchasing intentions, with data supplied by The Vision Council.

Click to view the COVID-19 Practice Performance Tracker for the Week Ending May 31, 2020.