THE 70-PERCENT MAJORITY - ENDURING CONSUMER BELIEFS ABOUT ADVERTISING

Six decades of survey data consistently indicate that about 70% of consumers think that advertising is often untruthful, it seeks to persuade people to buy things they do not want, it should be more strictly regulated, and it nonetheless provides valuable information. Consumers also tend to find that advertising's benefits outweigh its deficits. These beliefs have remained remarkably stable despite large fluctuations in the scope and vigor of advertising regulation.