LONDON, [September 7, 2011] – Customer satisfaction slips for the first time in two years, according to the National Customer Satisfaction Index UK (), produced in partnership with CFI Group and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (
www.theacsi.org). After stalling in the first quarter, the index is down .2 per cent to 74.5 on a 0-100 scale.
The Full Service Restaurant category falls to 78 as customer satisfaction with smaller restaurants and local establishments suffers a major drop. Fast food restaurants continue to benefit from a weak economy, with quick-service restaurants growing customer satisfaction for the second straight year, up one point to 75.
“This is similar to what we find in the United States, where the gap in customer satisfaction between full service restaurants and fast food outfits is also shrinking,” said Claes Fornell, founder of the ACSI and professor at the University of Michigan. “As long as the economy remains fragile, this is a trend that will continue.”
“Not only is the price of a meal becoming more important because of tight household budgets, but the cost of many basic foods is increasing as well. The fast food business is better equipped to handle this than smaller and locally-owned restaurants. Unless full service restaurants can provide significantly higher levels of quality and service, many of them will disappear from the marketplace. This is what’s happening in the US already and we may see more of it in Great Britain as well.”
Nando’s shows the greatest improvement among restaurants (up 6% to 76). Starbucks (+3%) takes the lead over Costa coffee (-1%), 74 vs. 71. McDonald’s improves (+3% to 68) while Burger King slides (-1% to 66).
Customer satisfaction with automakers stalls at a score of 79 for the second year in a row. Audi debuts on the NCSI with the top score of 83. Toyota improves to a score of 82, and Renault falls to the bottom of the auto industry at 74
Full NCSI commentary and results available at
www.cfigroup.com.
About
The applies the technology and methodology of CFI Group and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Indexes are reported on a 0 to 100 scale. The causal model determines which drivers of satisfaction, if improved, would have the most effect on customer loyalty and profitability. This methodology was developed at the University of Michigan and has been adopted worldwide as a leading macro- and micro-level indicator by universities, governments, and countries including the United States (
www.theacsi.org), the United Kingdom (ncsiuk.com), Sweden, Singapore, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Barbados. As a financial indicator, ACSI data have proven to predict corporate revenue and earnings growth, stock market performance, consumer spending and GDP.