NEW YORK—The latest Optical Business Barometer (OBB) report from Jobson Optical Research, which gauges the attitudes about their business and their business outlook among independent eyecare professionals is now reported quarterly instead of monthly. The survey is still fielded each month, but the data is aggregated and analyzed on a quarterly basis.

This Q1 2016 report showed growth over Q1 2015 in all current as well as future categories of eyeglasses, contact lenses and exams. However, when compared to the growth between Q1 2015 and Q1 2014, the rate of growth is lower.

Retail days lost due to bad weather in Q1 have mostly affected the Northeast and Midwest regions in the past, but Q1 2016 weather was mild when compared to Q1 2015 and 2014. As a likely result, the Q1 2016 optical business ratings for the Northeast and Midwest were significantly improved over Q1 2015 and Q1 2014.

When surveyed, 20 percent of independents agreed that the weather helped sales this quarter and 58 percent of them said the number of eye exams at their practice were up.

The Optical Business Barometer is designed to gauge the optical business trends of eyecare professionals at independent optical locations and to provide independent optical retailers with a comparative "how's business" benchmark.

The Optical Business Barometer is a monthly study of a representative sample of independent optical retailers (single locations and groups of no more than 3 locations). It is conducted on-line by Jobson Optical Research and is designed to take the temperature of the independent optical business. The Independent By The Numbers questions are asked during one month of the quarter to approximately 300 Independent ECPs across the U.S.