GfK identifies the quality sweet spot in optics

The economy remains smaller than the pre-recession peak, but it is now expected to have recovered all the ground lost by the end of this year. Coinciding with this, the GfK Consumer Confidence Index, designed to track the economic confidence of UK consumers, has captured rapidly improving sentiment over the past 12 months as more positive news on the economy has been reported. The index sat at a lowly -26 in March 2013 but has risen significantly to -5 in March 2014.2 Although still negative, this is the highest level the index has reached since 2008.

The optical categories tracked by GfK (spectacle frames, contact lenses, contact lens care products and sunglasses) performed resiliently even over the years of recession and have continued their strong performance into the latest quarter. In the first quarter of this year the four product groups achieved a combined value growth rate of 6.3 per cent as compared to the same period in the previous year. The two largest product groups tracked – spectacle frames and contact lenses – have achieved similar value growth rates of 6.5 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively.