Health plans ranking highest in their respective regions are (in alphabetical order):

• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky and BlueCross and BlueShield of Alabama (these two plans tie in the East South Central region)
• BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona
• BlueCross BlueShield of Florida
• BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
• BlueCross BlueShield of Nebraska
• Dean Health Insurance
• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
• Health Alliance Plan (HAP)
• Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
• HIP Health Plan of New York
• Humana (which ranks highest in the South Atlantic and Texas regions)
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (which ranks highest in the California, Colorado, Northwest and Virginia-Maryland regions)
• Medical Mutual of Ohio

The study found that—while satisfaction levels have increased significantly from 2008 in the New England, South Atlantic, California, Arizona-Utah and Illinois-Indiana regions—health plan members in the New England, Michigan, Pennsylvania-Delaware, California and South Atlantic regions are the most satisfied overall.

Source: J.D. Power and Associates

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Even in the face of a challenging environment marked by declining new-home prices and notably high inventory levels, many home builders are succeeding in significantly improving overall customer satisfaction in 2008, compared with 2007, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study. Overall customer satisfaction averages 779 on a 1,000-point scale in 2008, up 38 points from 741(1) since 2007.

The New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study, now in its 12th year, includes satisfaction ratings for builders in 33 markets. Nine factors drive overall customer satisfaction with home builders (listed in order of importance): builder’s sales staff (15%); builder’s warranty/customer service staff (15%); workmanship/materials (14%); price/value (14%); home readiness (13%); construction manager (13%); recreational facilities provided by the builder (7%); builder’s design center (6%); and location (4%).

Top Three Builders in Overall Customer Satisfaction by Market:

Albuquerque, N.M.*
Highest: Pulte Homes
Centex Homes

Atlanta, Ga.
Highest: John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods
Sharp Residential Builders
David Weekley Homes

Austin, Texas
Highest: David Weekley Homes
Centex Homes
Standard Pacific Homes

Central Valley/Fresno, Calif.
Highest: Granville Homes
Centex Homes
Wathen-Castanos

Charleston, S.C.*
Highest: Centex Homes
Ryland Homes

Charlotte, N.C.
Highest: John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods
Centex Homes
Pulte Homes

Chicago, Ill.
Highest: Cambridge Homes (tie)
Highest: Pulte Homes (tie)
Highest: Lakewood Homes (tie)

Columbus, Ohio
Highest: M/I Homes
Dominion
Centex Homes

Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas
Highest: Darling Homes
Huntington Homes
Fox & Jacobs

Denver/Colorado Springs, Colo.
Highest: Shea Homes
John Laing Homes
Pulte Homes

Ft. Myers/Naples, Fla.
Highest: Pulte Homes
DiVosta Homes
Lennar

Greensboro, N.C.
Highest: Eastwood Homes
D.R. Horton
K. Hovnanian

Greenville, S.C.
Highest: Eastwood Homes
Lennar Homes
Ryan Homes

Houston, Texas
Highest: Trendmaker Homes
Highland Homes
KB Home

Inland Empire, Calif.
Highest: Del Webb
Shea Homes
Meritage (tie)
Standard Pacific Homes (tie)

Jacksonville, Fla.
Highest: Pulte Homes
KB Home
Mercedes Homes

Los Angeles/Ventura, Calif.
Highest: Pulte Homes
John Laing Homes
Standard Pacific Homes

Las Vegas, Nev.
Highest: Centex Homes
Meritage Homes
Del Webb

Minneapolis, Minn.
Highest: Centex Homes
Lennar
Mattamy Homes

Northern New Jersey*
Highest: Del Webb

Orange County, Calif.*
Highest: Standard Pacific Homes
John Laing Homes

Orlando, Fla.
Highest: David Weekley Homes
Pulte Homes
Centex Homes

Palm Beach, Fla.
Highest: Minto Communities
Lennar
Centex Homes

Philadelphia, Penn.
Highest: Del Webb
Pulte Homes
Ryan Homes

Phoenix, Ariz.
Highest: Shea Homes
Ashton Woods
T.W. Lewis Company

Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
Highest: Centex Homes
Lennar
Drees Custom Homes

Sacramento, Calif.
Highest: Tim Lewis Communities
Del Webb
John Laing Homes

San Antonio, Texas
Highest: Medallion Homes
Highland Homes
Centex Homes

San Diego, Calif.
Highest: Shea Homes
Lennar
KB Home

San Francisco Bay Area, Calif.
Highest: Del Webb
Pulte Homes
Centex Homes

Tampa, Fla.
Highest: Centex Homes
Pulte Homes
David Weekley Homes

Tucson, Ariz.
Highest: Pulte Homes
Lennar
Meritage Homes

Washington, D.C.
Highest: Pulte Homes
Van Metre Homes
Winchester Homes

*No other builder in this market performs above the market average.

J.D. Power and Associates analyzed the responses from more than 7,600 credit card users to understand what made them either satisfied or unhappy with their current cards. The study measures customer satisfaction with credit cards over five key factors: interaction; billing and payment process; fees and rates; reward programs; and benefits and services.

Here’s how cardholders scored high performers in areas they identified as important to them:

Rewards (Transactors)

• AmEx
• Discover
• Chase

Fees/Rates (Revolvers)

• AmEx
• US Bank
• Discover

Call Center

• AmEx
• Discover
• Chase

Problem Incidence

• Target Visa
• Discover
• WaMu

Accepted Everywhere

• National City
• WaMu
• Chase
• Target Visa

Some additional credit card insights:

• Transactors are, as a whole, more satisfied with their credit cards than revolvers and are twice as likely as to remain with their primary credit card issuer.
• Even though transactors are most interested in rewards programs, 72 percent of all cardholders participate in some type of reward program.
• Hotel stays are the most satisfying type of reward, followed by cash rewards.
• One quarter of all cardholders don’t know if their card offers them additional benefits and one-third haven’t used any during the past year. Those users have lower satisfaction levels than their better informed counterparts.

For more information, view the complete credit card ratings at the J.D. Power and Associates web site.

Source: From J.D. Power and Associates

Among washing machine manufacturers, LG ranks highest in customer satisfaction for a third consecutive year, while Samsung ranks highest among clothes dryer manufacturers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Laundry Appliances Study. The study measures customer satisfaction with clothes washers and dryers based on performance in six factors: ease of use; features (such as the number of settings available and appliance capacity); performance (including energy efficiency, noise level and how well the appliance functions); styling and feel; warranty; and value.

Overall Customer Satisfaction with Clothes Washers
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

• LG — 831
• Samsung — 829
• Kenmore Elite — 819
• Bosch — 798
• Fisher & Payke — 795
• Frigidaire — 794
• GE Profile — 790
• Industry Average — 781
• Maytag — 777
• Whirlpool — 776
• Kenmore — 770
• GE Appliances — 763
• Amana — 760
• Estate — 725
• Hotpoint — 720
• Roper — 710

Overall Customer Satisfaction with Clothes Dryers
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

• Samsung — 833
• LG — 829
• Kenmore Elite — 815
• Fisher & Paykel — 803
• GE Profile — 789
• Whirlpool — 788
• Bosch — 782
• Frigidaire — 780
• Industry Average — 776
• Maytag — 773
• Kenmore — 772
• GE Appliances — 747
• Amana — 745
• Hotpoint — 733
• Estate — 726
• Roper — 703

Source: J.D. Power and Associates