During a press presentation in Paris last week, GFK disclosed some figures on four major European countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain). Retail sales of eyewear remained almost constant at €7.8 billion for the first six months of 2014 in these four countries, but the markets moved in different directions. At €2.9 billion and €2.6 billion, respectively, the French and German markets were up by more than one percent. On the other hand, the Italian market was down by 1.5 percent to €1.4 billion and Spain suffered the most with a 3.5 percent decrease to €858 million. By product segment, optical lenses represented 58 percent of the value of the market and their sales went up by 1.7 percent, followed by contact lenses and solutions, which had a market share of 10 percent and grew by 1.9 percent. Optical frames were up by only 0.5 percent and sunglasses fell by 0.6 percent. More detailed information is expected to be presented by GFK tomorrow at a press conference at the Silmo show.

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