Google steals most reputable title from Microsoft, as oil companies, airlines, and automakers tumble

Google is the most reputable company in America, according to a Harris poll.

In the 2008 listing, the top 10 companies are:

1. Google
2. Johnson & Johnson
3. Intel Corporation 
4. General Mills 
5. Kraft Foods 
6. Berkshire-Hathaway Inc.
7. 3M Company 
8. The Coca-Cola Company 
9. Honda Motor Co. 
10. Microsoft

Google stole the No. 1 spot from Microsoft, which fell to tenth place, according to ConsumerAffairs.com, which reported on the poll. At the bottom on the list were: Royal Dutch/Shell, Chevron Texaco, ExxonMobil, Citgo, and Halliburton.

Airlines also were unpopular in the survey. Positive perceptions of the airline industry fell five percentage points from the last survey, and insurance and financial services were down four percentage points, ConsumerAffairs.com reported. Technology ranked first in terms of an overall positive rating among consumers, followed by travel and tourism, retail, consumer products, telecom, and automotive.

Honda's ninth-place ranking was far ahead of other automakers. Toyota was No. 15 in the poll, while Chrysler (No. 51), GM (No. 52), and Ford (No. 54) lagged way behind.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist