consumer durable: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Yes, typically. While its lifespan may be shorter than a car or fridge (2-4 years), it is a tangible, long-lasting product purchased for personal use, fitting the standard economic definition.

Consumer durables are bought by individuals/families for final use (e.g., a television). Capital goods are bought by businesses to produce other goods or services (e.g., a factory machine). A van could be a capital good for a delivery company, but a consumer durable for a family.

It's quite formal. In everyday talk, people are more likely to say 'big purchases', 'major appliances', or simply name the item (e.g., 'a new sofa').

Spending on consumer durables is a key economic indicator. It is sensitive to interest rates and consumer confidence. A rise suggests optimism and disposable income; a fall can signal an impending recession, as people delay replaceable, expensive items.

A manufactured product that is expected to last for several years and is purchased for personal or household use.

Consumer durable is usually formal, business, academic, economic in register.

Consumer durable: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈsjuːmə ˈdjʊərəb(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈsuːmɚ ˈdʊrəb(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.