Americans Are More Confident & Optimistic About The Future Than A Year Ago.

With increasing economic, domestic and global uncertainties, questions about the future of Americans continue to be raised. Sure antiperspirant released a study that demonstrates American men and women are confident and optimistic about the future despite these uncertainties.

The study, conducted by Harris Interactive via phone, demonstrates half of Americans (47%) feel the best days of their lives are yet to come. Additionally, nine out of ten (94%) Americans say that no matter what has happened in the past they are optimistic about the future.

“In general, people are positive about their future,” says renowned psychologist and author, Dr. Sonya Friedman, former host of the CNN program Sonya Live. “Despite all of the changes both in the U.S. and abroad, Americans want to feel good and they understand that strength can be derived from staying positive and feeling confident. People want to feel happy and empowered in their own home and surroundings.”

The study shows most Americans are confident that they can strengthen their family relationships (94%) and that they can start new social relationships (73%) in the future. Men and women apply this sense of confidence to the country with four out of five (80%) confident that things will improve in America over the next twelve months.

As the country approaches the first 4th of July since the events of September 11, the study concludes that Americans have become stronger in the face of adversity. Three out of four (76%) say they are confident that America can defeat terrorism and the vast majority (91%) agree that Americans respond to challenges by looking for solutions rather than backing down.

Additional findings from the survey include:

* Three-quarters (74%) of Americans say there is a renewed sense of optimism in the country today

* Most (91%) Americans feel good about their lives when they wake up in the morning

* Nine out of ten (92%) are confident that things will improve in their own life in the next year and four out of five (80%) Americans are confident that things will improve in America overall over the next twelve months

* Virtually all (97%) Americans are confident in their ability to make the best of things, regardless of what happens

* Nine out of 10 (94%) say that no matter what has happened in the past they are optimistic about the future

“Men and women have found strength in those things and people that are around them everyday — their friends, family and community,” says Dr. Friedman. “This strength has led to greater confidence and optimism. Additionally, individuals reinforce the feelings through cultural guideposts, whether it is the media they consume or entertainment they select. “That is why we are seeing such an interest in revisiting a variety of cultural icons like the Sure(R) ‘Raise Your Hand’ campaign — from television programs such as The Carol Burnett Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show to products such as the recently announced return of the VW bus.”

The study is released in conjunction with the return of the Sure brand’s classic ‘Raise Your Hand If You’re Sure(R)’ advertising campaign. The campaign, which originally aired from 1982 to 1987, has been updated and begins airing again on July 1.

“We decided to bring back the ‘Raise Your Hand If You’re Sure’ campaign because its message of confidence and optimism is still so fresh today,” says Liz Harvey, Sure marketing director. “In fact, despite being off the air for 15 years, some 74% of men and women remember the campaign.”

Harris Interactive conducted the study via phone between June 13-16, 2002 with a nationally representative sample of 1044 American men and women. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%