Usa: eyewear purchase plans ease up

Consumers purchasing eyewear in May seemed very enthusiastic on their future spending. Based on the latest Vca (Vision Council of America) Consumer Barometer Survey, Americans are more optimistic this month than in the previous month about their eyewear purchase plans.

Following three straight months of decline, the total consumer three-month purchase plan index for eyewear (T-3MPI) bounced back in May. The current index stood at 95.6, up 2.6 percent over April.

The rebound was mainly propelled by consumers with an intention to shop for prescription eyewear. The outlook for prescription eyewear market, which accounts for the largest share of the optical market, has grown in the past two months. The most current consumer three-month purchase plan index for prescription eyewear (P-3MPI) expanded by 7.5 percent to a level of 99.5. This follows a very slight increase of 0.1 percent in April. May 2004's P-3MPI was the highest index recorded this year after January's 103.8.

The Vca Consumer Barometer Study is a monthly survey to analyze consumer intent regarding future eyewear purchases and eye exam frequency. It also gathers information on spending plans and consumer ideas on the eyewear industry.