The Nation - News from March 10, 1986

Supermarkets and banks received the highest ratings from the American public on the quality of their services, while auto repair shops, local governments, real estate agencies and public transportation were rated lowest. Rated between the extremes were airlines, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, department stores and insurance companies, the Gallup Poll reported. Under the Gallup system of indexing for quality, supermarkets were rated 58%, banks 52%, airlines 47%, restaurants 46%, hospitals 44% and hotels 41%. All are in the upper half of the organizations rated. Rated less highly were department stores at 38%, insurance companies at 34%, auto repair services at 26%, local governments 22%, real estate firms 19% and public transportation at 17%.