Consumerism is a word with two meanings. It refers both to a kind of society and to a protective movement. In this chapter we discuss trends related to both meanings. First, consumerism as a way of life is spreading around the world because the conditions that support it are becoming more common. Where it is already established, it is strengthening its grip. Second, consumers in the United States are now more protected from injury, fraud, and other abuses than in the past because of stronger government regulation and more consumer-friendly common law doctrines. Protections are also growing in other industrialized nations.

These trends seem likely to continue. As the ideology of consumerism tightens its grip, responsive governments will expend more resources on issues raised by shopping for, purchasing, using, and displaying material objects. These issues will be more complex as populations grow, product choices expand, technology changes the nature of products, and marketing becomes more sophisticated.