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.

In comparing both Q1 and Q2 for 2016 over their respective 2015 quarters, both showed growth. However, in looking at the two quarters in 2016, Q2 was less than half the growth rate of Q1 which indicates that there is some “cooling” of the overall independent optical business.

On a regional basis, the Northeast showed a 1.6 percent decline in Q2 2016 as compared to the previous year’s quarter. The West however showed a 6.2 percent gain in Q2 over the previous year’s quarter.

When surveyed, 64 percent of independents say that they are involved in an alliance or buying group while 27 percent said that their alliance or buying group provides consulting service.

Additionally, while 51 percent of independents say their dispensaries always have promotions running, 22 percent say they never offer any promotions.

The Optical Business Barometer (OBB) 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.

OBB 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.