Consumer Confidence: Americans Are Losing Faith In Government's Ability To Protect Consumers

Americans have grown more pessimistic in recent months as consumers, with new concerns about access to health care, data privacy and security and the government’s ability to regulate safety standards in the automotive industry, a survey conducted by Consumer Reports indicated.

Consumer Reports spoke to 1,007 American adults in April for its second Consumer Voices Survey. The respondents indicated their confidence as consumers had waned since the start of the year, dropping at least five percent in each category they were questioned about.

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One number that stayed consistent since Consumer Reports ran its first survey in January, just prior to the inauguration of President Donald Trump, is the overall trust of the government to watch out for consumer interests. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed said they did not trust the government to put their interests first—the same percentage produced at the start of the year.

However, there were significant drops in consumer confidence in regards to specific industries. The greatest change came in regards to the government’s ability to regulate safety and transparency standards on the auto industry.

Just less than half of Americans, 45 percent, no longer have confidence the government can successfully enforce those standards—up from 38 percent in January. This may relate to the Trump administration’s decision to roll back fuel efficiency standards put in place by President Barack Obama.

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Consumers are also considerably more questioning about the safety of their data in the wake of the repeal of the Broadband Consumer Privacy Act, which removed protections that were set to go into place that would have prevented internet service providers from collecting user information without permission.

Prior to the repeal of the rules, 35 percent of consumers had confidence their online information was private and secure. Since the Obama-era protections were repealed, 70 percent now say they are only slightly or not at all confident about their data privacy.

Health care access has also taken a hit in the early months of the Trump administration. Nearly three in five Americans now lack confidence that their loved ones will have access to affordable health insurance, despite 78 percent of Americans—and 56 percent of Republicans—now believing the government has a role in ensuring affordable, quality health care.

Consumer confidence regarding the quality of health care has declined among Republicans, as well, the survey found. Forty-seven percent of conservatives polled voiced concerns about access to health insurance, compared to 42 percent with the same concerns several months ago.

“This latest CR Consumer Voices Survey suggests an alarming erosion of people's trust in how well the government will look after their interests,” Marta L. Tellado, president and CEO of Consumer Reports said. "Consumers hold tremendous power to shape the world through their voices and choices—and CR will continue our work to equip people to be better heard by those who serve them.”