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What Is the Difference Between Durable Goods and Non-Durable Goods? by W D Adkins, Demand Media

Consumers buy an enormous variety of products. Some are goods that will last for many years. Other items are consumed on the spot when we purchase them. To businesspeople and economists, these are known as durable and non-durable goods. The production of durable and non-durable goods is the basis for important measures of economic trends.

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Description

Durable goods tend to have a long useful life. For statistical purposes, a durable good is expected to last at least three years, according to the Economics and Statistics Administration. Goods consumed in a short time or that have useful lives of less than three years are classified as non-durable. The dividing line isn't always rigid. For example, people sometimes use a piece of clothing for more than three years.

Types

Consumer durable goods include items like furniture, jewelry and cars. Large appliances such as stoves and washing machines are durable goods. The category also includes defense and commercial procurement of heavy equipment and assets like aircraft, trucks and ships. Non-durable goods include food, medicines and other consumables, as well as products that last a limited lifetime such as clothing, shoes and small electronic devices.

Economic Reports

The Bureau of the Census publishes monthly reports that provide up-to-date information on the production of durable and non-durable goods. The Advance Report on Durable Goods gives information on recent and estimated factory orders for durable goods along with statistics on non-durable goods orders and shipments. Another report, Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders, supplies additional information on both durable and non-durable goods.

Significance

The market for some non-durable goods, such as food, tends to be stable. Growth in other consumer products, like clothing and electronics, indicates economic growth. The significance of changes in durable goods production and sales is more complex. Generally, increases tend to indicate economic growth and the likelihood of job growth in the manufacturing sector. However, an unexpected jump is often an indicator of inflationary pressures on prices. Sudden increases thus may lead to a rise in interest rates and cause bond prices to fall. Economists sometimes exclude categories such as defense procurement and aircraft because they tend to be volatile and may vary for reasons that have little to do with overall economic trends.

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Why are products classified into durable or non durable goods?

1. Classifying products into durable and nondurable are helpful for both the consumer and firm. It is helpful in the consumer in a way that they will know whether they are buying a product that is for one time use only or that can stock and use for a long time. On the part of the firm, they can determine the demand of the product depending on the product consumption and purchase. Usually, durable products have low demand because of its high price and long life span compared to nondurable products that have high demand because those products belong in this category are the basic needs of consumers and that are bought from time to time. This distinction is useful because durable products present more complicated problems of demand analysis than nondurable products. Nondurable items are meant for meeting immediate demand, but durable items are designed to meet current as well as future demand as they are used over a period of time.


Why does the business cycle affect output and employment in capital goods industries and consumer durable goods industries more severaly than in industries producing consumer nondurable?

Capital goods are durable and last longer than three years, like a car. Non-Durable goods are quickly used up, like toilet paper, and have a low elasticity of demand thus consumers will be consistently consuming nondurable goods which will need to be replaced often. Purchases of capital goods can be delayed, purchases of toilet paper can not.


What is the demand for a durable goods?

24


Why is the demand for durable goods less stable then the demand for non-durable goods?

The demand for durable goods is less stable than for non-durable goods because durable goods, such as appliances and vehicles, are often considered big-ticket items that consumers purchase less frequently and typically defer during economic uncertainty. In contrast, non-durable goods, like food and toiletries, are essential items that consumers need to buy regularly, regardless of economic conditions. As a result, demand for durable goods is more sensitive to changes in income, consumer confidence, and economic cycles, leading to greater fluctuations.


What are different types of demand distinctions?

1.producer's goods and consumer's goods 2.durable goods and non durable good 3.derived demand and autonomous demand 4.industry demand and company demand 5.short run demand and long run demand 6.short term demand fluctuations and long term trends 7.total market and market segments

Related Questions

Why are products classified into durable or non durable goods?

1. Classifying products into durable and nondurable are helpful for both the consumer and firm. It is helpful in the consumer in a way that they will know whether they are buying a product that is for one time use only or that can stock and use for a long time. On the part of the firm, they can determine the demand of the product depending on the product consumption and purchase. Usually, durable products have low demand because of its high price and long life span compared to nondurable products that have high demand because those products belong in this category are the basic needs of consumers and that are bought from time to time. This distinction is useful because durable products present more complicated problems of demand analysis than nondurable products. Nondurable items are meant for meeting immediate demand, but durable items are designed to meet current as well as future demand as they are used over a period of time.


Why does the business cycle affect output and employment in capital goods industries and consumer durable goods industries more severaly than in industries producing consumer nondurable?

Capital goods are durable and last longer than three years, like a car. Non-Durable goods are quickly used up, like toilet paper, and have a low elasticity of demand thus consumers will be consistently consuming nondurable goods which will need to be replaced often. Purchases of capital goods can be delayed, purchases of toilet paper can not.


What is the demand for a durable goods?

24


What are the problems faced in determining the demand for a durable goods?

The demand for durable goods will increase until saturation. Calculating the demand is daunting. Opening new markets creates even a greater variable for this prediction.


What are the problems faced in determining the demand for a durable good?

The demand for durable goods will increase until saturation. Calculating the demand is daunting. Opening new markets creates even a greater variable for this prediction.


What are different types of demand distinctions?

1.producer's goods and consumer's goods 2.durable goods and non durable good 3.derived demand and autonomous demand 4.industry demand and company demand 5.short run demand and long run demand 6.short term demand fluctuations and long term trends 7.total market and market segments


Difference between elastic and inelastic demand?

difference between elastic and inelastic demand


How does nature of a commodity influence its Price Elasticity of demand?

Depends on what type of good like perishable or non perishable, durable and non durable.


What is the difference between demand function and demand schedule?

Demand schedule: a list of demand/price equivalencies. It can best be seen as a table with discrete points. Demand function: a continuous function of price-demand interaction. Main difference: schedule is discrete; function is continuous.


Difference between a demand schedule and demand curve?

Demand schedule is a tabular representation nd Demand curve is a graphical representation


What factors contribute to the long-term demand for durable goods in the field of economics"?

Factors that contribute to the long-term demand for durable goods in economics include consumer preferences, income levels, interest rates, technological advancements, and overall economic conditions.


What is the difference between demand and exchange?

Demand is to ask for something forcibly. Exchange is to trade.