NEW YORK—The latest Optical Business Barometer (OBB) report from
Jobson Optical Research shows that the overall optical business rating for October 2014 increased to 3.77 from a September 2014 rating of 3.71 and showed an increase from all previous ratings for the month of October over time. October ratings stood at 3.54 in 2013, 3.44 in 2012, 3.38 in 2011 and 3.22 in 2010, making October 2014 the strongest rating for the month of October since the Barometer began.
Between September and October 2014, the confidence rating, measuring independent eyecare professionals' outlook for overall optical retail business for the upcoming six months was also on the rise showing a 3.84 for October compared to a 3.77 rating in September. The October 2014 confidence rating is higher than the confidence rating for the same period in previous years, comparing to 3.65 in 2013, 3.69 in 2012, 3.54 in 2011 and 3.49 in 2010.
SOURCE: Jobson Optical Research Business Barometer for October 2014The September 2014 monthly scores for eyeglasses, exams and contact lenses all showed increases from previous years as well. The October rating for eyeglasses rose from 3.45 in 2013 to 3.72 in 2014 (and further compares to 3.37 in 2012, 3.30 in 2011 and 3.12 in 2010); the rating for exams rose from 3.56 in 2013 to 3.80 in 2014 (and further compares to 3.47 in 2012, 3.44 in 2011 and 3.20 in 2010); and the rating for contact lenses rose from 3.43 in 2013 to 3.62 in 2014 (comparing to 3.42 in 2012, 3.31 in 2011 and 3.12 in 2010).
Year-to-date average ratings for January through October 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 3.64 in 2013 and 3.63 2012. For exams, the rating stood at 3.79 in 2014 compared to 3.70 in 2013 and 2012. For contact lenses, the rating stood at 3.62 compared to a 3.55 rating in 2013 and a 3.56 rating in 2012.
SOURCE: Jobson Optical Research Business Barometer for October 2014Regional scores for the overall optical year-to-date average rating stood at 3.87 for the South, 3.73 for the Midwest, 3.69 for the West and 3.66 for the Northeast.
Jobson's OBB report is further compared to the
Consumer Confidence Index from the Conference Board, which rebounded in October to 94.5 from a revised September index of 89.0. 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 October 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 Waller at (212) 274-7164 or
jwaller@jobson.com.