Definition

1. Noun:
   • Consumer goods that are not destroyed by use: This term refers to tangible products purchased by individuals for personal or household use that are designed to last for an extended period, typically several years, rather than being consumed immediately.

Usage

• The term "consumer durables" is used as a plural noun to categorize a class of goods. It is typically used in economic, business, and retail contexts to discuss market trends, manufacturing, and household spending.
• It functions as a subject or object in a sentence.
• Example: "The economic report showed a decline in spending on consumer durables like refrigerators and washing machines."

Examples

• Noun:
  • Automobiles, furniture, and major appliances are all considered consumer durables.
  • During the recession, sales of consumer durables fell sharply as people postponed major purchases.
  • The company specializes in manufacturing high-end consumer durables such as televisions and sound systems.

Advanced Usage

• "Market for consumer durables": Refers to the economic sector or demand for long-lasting goods.
  • The market for consumer durables is highly competitive and sensitive to interest rates.
• "Durable goods orders": An economic indicator closely related to consumer durables, often used in financial news.
  • A rise in durable goods orders often signals increased consumer confidence.

Variants and Related Words

• Durable goods (n): A nearly synonymous term, often used interchangeably in economics and official reports.
  • The data on durable goods is released monthly by the government.
• Consumer non-durables (n): The contrasting category, referring to goods that are consumed quickly, such as food, clothing, and toiletries.
  • Spending on consumer non-durables tends to be more stable than on durables.

Synonyms

• Hard goods: An informal synonym, especially in retail and manufacturing contexts.
• White goods: A specific subset referring to large household appliances like refrigerators and stoves (a type of consumer durable).
• Brown goods: A specific subset referring to consumer electronics like televisions and audio equipment (a type of consumer durable).

Antonyms

• Consumer non-durables: Goods meant for immediate or short-term consumption.
• Consumables: Items that are used up and need frequent replacement, such as paper or cleaning supplies.

Related Phrases

• Big-ticket items: An informal phrase often used to describe expensive consumer durables.
  • Buying a car is one of the biggest big-ticket items a family will purchase.
• Major purchase: A purchase of a significant, typically durable, item.
  • Getting a mortgage for a house is a major purchase, unlike buying daily groceries.

Noun

1. consumer goods that are not destroyed by use