Customer Satisfaction Index Shows Increase

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which measures consumer evaluations of customer service, showed its biggest increase in three years for the first quarter of 2006.

The University of Michigan, who carried out the survey, revealed the results on Tuesday.

About 20,000 consumers, including about 4,000 airline and hotel customers, were surveyed during the first three months this year. The average score for companies in all industries was 74.1 on a scale of zero-to-100.

Hotels posted a combined score of 75, the highest since the index began in 1994. Hilton Hotels' gained the top score of 78.

Other areas showing gains include wireless phone services up five percent to a score of 66. T-Mobile leads with a score of 69.

In the express-delivery industry FedEx scored 86, and United Parcel Service, 83.

Southern Company received the highest ranking among U.S. electric service providers for the seventh consecutive year.