Final good

Consumer goods are goods that are manufactured and traded for private use or consumption. In contrast to capital goods or raw materials and supplies that are provided for the production process, consumer goods serve primarily the private consumption. However arises only with the actual use of a property, whether it is finally consumed or as a working tool into a production process. This is true for high-value goods, such as vehicles, machinery, real estate, etc., as well as for consumer goods for daily needs.

Consumer goods can be consumer goods (eg fuel, food, medicines, etc.), but also consumer durables, which are not consumed in the proper sense, but by the repeated use of a wear ( wear) are subject.

In Marx's social and value theory are consumer goods - without using this term - an additional distinction in commodities and goods. The former have only a use value and are for their own use, contrast, goods are produced in more developed societies specifically for the exchange or trade and have not only a use value and an exchange value.

Species

According to the need of the consumers and the distribution of forms in the commercial consumer products can be grouped into four broad groups:

Goods of daily needs ( convenience goods )

These are goods that are purchased frequently and without intensive planning or preparation. Normally, it is goods with a comparatively low price, which are marketed by means of a mass-market strategy of the manufacturer. These items can be purchased in many places, for example: bread, newspaper, toilet paper, gasoline and Others

Goods of search and comparison purchase (shopping goods )

These goods are bought less frequently and have a higher price than goods of daily needs. When you purchase a higher level of planning is necessary. It will be taken during the purchase decision process comparisons to select the best possible alternative. The goods are sold advertised both the dealer by the manufacturer as and usually in stores, for example: perfume, brand furniture, brand clothing, automobiles, etc.

Special products and specialty ( specialty goods )

These are mostly luxury goods, for which there is only very limited alternative brands on the market. The sensitivity with respect to the price is very low. Therefore, may be required for these luxury goods, a very high price. Such goods are advertised by means of a geared to the target group exclusive marketing strategy and are sold only by specially selected brand dealers, such as: luxury watches, expensive china, crystal goods, wines.

Goods of externally initiated purchase with low demand ( unsought goods )

For these goods, there is only a very low demand, as consumers either do not know that there are these goods at all, or there are products that you refuse emotionally. The consumer refuses to deal with these goods, as this is perceived as a nuisance. The sale of such products is supported by aggressive advertising and promoted through direct sales, for example insurance benefits.

Significance in the context of economics

In macroeconomics, the demand for consumer goods a component of aggregate demand dar. In the context of economic policy is to influence the demand for consumer goods is an important point of contention between the schools of thought of the supply and demand policy.