News focus: Strength in sun and specs

Sales volumes of spectacles and sunglasses in England Scotland and Wales steadied during 2010 after large falls in 2009, according to market research company GfK. It revealed that sales by volume declined by a marginal 0.3 per cent during the year compared to a drop of 4.5 per cent in 2009.

GfK attributed a value decline of 2.2 per cent compared to 6.9 per cent the year before to a drop in the average price of spectacles of 1.9 per cent to £67.50 in 2010.

The company also revealed 'a clear shift towards gender-specific models in the frames market' reporting that volume sales of unisex eyewear declined by 10.5 per cent. In contrast it said that year-on-year sales of men's and women's spectacles grew 2.8 per cent and 3.9 per cent in volume respectively.