consumer goods

American  

[kuhn-soo-mer goodz] / kənˈsu mər ˌgʊdz /

plural noun

Economics.

1. goods that are bought and used in satisfaction of human wants, as clothing, food, or appliances, and are not utilized in any further production (contrasted with capital goods).

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consumer goods British  

plural noun

1. goods that satisfy personal needs rather than those required for the production of other goods or services Compare capital goods

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consumer goods Cultural  

1. Goods, such as food and clothing, that satisfy human wants through their consumption or use. (Compare capital goods.)

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Etymology

Origin of consumer goods

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Shares of companies making discretionary consumer goods also lost ground, weighing on the S&P 500, which finished 0.2% lower.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

In March, US imports rose 2.3 percent to $381.2 billion, with increases seen in autos and parts, alongside consumer goods and industrial supplies.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Moving up, education group Pearson rose 2.7% after earnings, while consumer goods company Unilever gained 1.9%.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Prices also rose for food, beverages, industrial supplies and, to a lesser extent, consumer goods.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

New consumers, he reasoned, would need new consumer goods.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer