New Regs Boosts Eye Safety Sales; Bad Economy Pulls Them Down

"The protective eyewear industry thrives off of workplace safety regulations," says DailyMarkets. "The most recent revision to standards in 2010 is expected to boost revenue as employers comply with the new rules. However, revenue growth depends highly on industrial, construction, and healthcare activity. Hence, the economic downturn of recent years that slashed employment across the economy pulled down demand for industry products. Revenue fell in 2008 and 2009, but it returned to growth in 2010 along with rising industrial activity and strong healthcare demand. Over the five years to 2011,revenue in the protective eyewear industry is expected to grow at an average annualized rate of 1.1 percent to $529.2 million, including an increase of 3.1 percent in 2011, said IBISWorld analyst Brian Bueno." Read more.