NEW YORK—While overall optical sales showed slight improvement last week, June 21-27, the national average for gross revenue at ECP locations fell by 1 index point. This slight decline brought gross revenue to a level that was 4 index points below where it had been at this same time period last year but 2 index points above where it had been two years ago at the same point in 2019, according to data from Jobson’s latest Practice Performance Tracker.

All optical sales categories improved last week, except gross revenue. While gross revenue fell by 1 index point, all other categories increased by either 1 index point (for exams/refractions and contact lenses) or by 2 index points (for frame units and lens pairs). This brings sales of frame units and lens pairs in line with where they were in 2019 but below where they were last year, while exams/refractions and contact lenses remain below where they were at this point in time during both 2019 and 2020.

With most optical sales categories taking a slight upturn last week (except gross revenue), they all remain at similar levels in relation to each other. Gross revenue, even with a decrease of 1 index point, continues to be the only category performing at sales rates above an average week in 2019, while all other categories remain below that index level.

Jobson Optical Research selected 1,500 optical locations that have been operating and reporting their sales to its partners, GPN and ABB Analytics, since 2019. The index has been rebased to an average week in 2019. Going forward, this new index base will be used as an arbitrary benchmark and assigned a value of 100.

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