capital goods

American  

plural noun

Economics.

1. machines and tools used in the production of other goods (contrasted with consumer goods).

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capital goods British  

plural noun

1. Also called: producer goods.  economics goods that are themselves utilized in the production of other goods rather than being sold to consumers Compare consumer goods

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capital goods Cultural  

1. Goods used in the production of commodities; producers' goods. (Compare consumer goods.)

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Etymology

Origin of capital goods

First recorded in 1895–1900

Compare meaning

How does capital-goods compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• consumer vs. capital goods

Example Sentences

Resilient consumer spending, up 1.4%, and a 3.3% jump in core capital goods orders are boosting Q1 GDP.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

Prices surged early this year for capital goods.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

The losers are sectors that depend on oil as an input, such as capital goods manufacturers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

"Producers of capital goods, including those manufacturing defence equipment, are in particular benefiting," said the economy ministry in a statement.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

Industrial production is substantially oriented toward capital goods and exports, whereas the manufacture of products for domestic consumption continues to be severely restricted.

From Area Handbook for Albania by Elpern, Sarah Jane