durable goods

American  

plural noun

1. goods, as household appliances, machinery, or sports equipment, that are not consumed or destroyed in use and can be used for a period of time, usually three or more years.

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durable goods British  

plural noun

1. Also called: durables.  goods, such as most producer goods and some consumer goods, that require infrequent replacement. Compare disposable goods , perishables

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durable goods Cultural  

1. Manufactured products capable of long utility, such as refrigerators and automobiles.

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Etymology

Origin of durable goods

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Also due are durable goods figures for February on Tuesday, followed by the third estimate of fourth-quarter gross domestic product and PCE inflation data for February on Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Prices of imported durable goods rose 1.3% from January through November, according to analysis by the Yale Budget Lab, well below what many economists had predicted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

Investors wanting to anticipate major economic shifts or downturns should not focus on the monthly data or even GDP releases, but focus on a handful of components, such as residential investment and durable goods.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

Lastly, durable goods, including cars, electrical appliances, white goods and furniture, have a lead time of about 3.5 quarters.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

The most serious deficiencies will persist in the fields of residential housing, building materials, and consumers' durable goods.

From State of the Union Address by Truman, Harry S.

Related Words

• consumer durables
• consumer goods