From our president

This monthly letter to subscribers from Consumers Union President Jim Guest highlights the critical consumer issues behind our current reports. See archived letters.

Onward, upward

We just ordered next year's office calendars and I, for one, will be somewhat relieved to slip the 2009 edition into the files. I'm not one to wish away the days, and I've enjoyed many high points, personally and professionally, in 2009. But overall this year has been tough for pretty much everyone—families, businesses, nonprofits.

Consumers are certainly telling us so. We've created the Consumer Reports Index, a monthly, nationally representative survey that includes a "trouble tracker" to measure the difficulties respondents have faced in the previous 30 days.

Among the most prevalent financial problems: increased rates and penalty fees for credit cards, and lost or reduced health-care coverage. Lower-income households—in our survey, those that earn less than $50,000 a year—were disproportionately affected and struggled more with medical bills, job layoffs, and missed payments.

Some successes

But my adieu to 2009 comes with some relief, for this year held several triumphs for consumers. They include stricter limits for lead in products, more restrictions on credit-card fees (some will go into effect in February), and lawmakers' long-overdue plunge into the troubled waters of the health-care system.

Consumers Union pushed hard for those and other reforms. In doing so, we stayed true to our heritage. Issues of health, finance, safety, and other consumer protections have been part of our work since our founding 73 years ago. And now we're ready to hang up our new calendars and, with you, take on the challenges and celebrate the triumphs of 2010.

Jim Guest
President