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NEW YORK—Optical sales throughout the U.S. continued to remain flat this past week, showing little change from the previous week (Oct. 12 to 18), according to the latest Jobson COVID-19 Performance Tracker for the week ending Oct. 25. Sales showed little change over the course of last week even as COVID-19 cases continue to break records throughout the country, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. All service/product categories were up a slightly by 1 index point except contact lenses which were down by 1 index point.

Regionally, optical sales remained primarily flat. The Midwest was the only region to experience any downturn in optical sales, albeit a very small decrease in the range of either -1 or -2 index points. One bright spot was the Northeast region, which saw the largest increase with exams/refractions growing at a rate of 3 index points and frame units and lens pairs up 2 index points over the course of last week.

All other categories in all other regions were primarily up by 1 index point. While COVID-19 cases are increasing in nearly every state across the country except three (Connecticut, Kansas and Mississippi), some of the largest increases are in Midwestern states (such as North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

The Jobson COVID-19 Practice Performance Tracker data is compiled by Jobson Research  from GPN/EDGEPro   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.

This index baseline was developed by Jobson Research from total sales from an average 7 days in the first quarter of 2019.

Click here to view the complete Jobson COVID-19 Performance Tracker