U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 29

WASHINGTON, March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

MONDAY, MARCH 29: FIRST CAR AD IN GENERAL MAGAZINE

Profile America -- Monday, March 29th.  Even with the economic downturn, one consumer product that is advertised in every possible medium -- television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and billboards -- is the automobile, reflecting the huge role that cars and trucks play in our lives.  The first advertisement for an automobile in a general consumer publication appeared in an issue of the Saturday Evening Post this month in 1900.  The car was the short-lived product of the W.E. Roach Company of Philadelphia.  Recent expenditures for car and truck advertising reflect the economic downturn, but still come in second only to ads for retail items.  Each year in the U.S., some $271 billion is spent on advertising.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, counting down to census day April 1st.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 2332

Business Insider

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 1243

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau