Consumer goods is a generalized term for any product or service purchased primarily for personal, family, or household uses. Consumer goods such as clothing, foodstuffs, or toys are intended to satisfy human wants and needs through their direct consumption or use. Capital goods, in contrast to consumer goods, are purchased by individuals or organizations to produce other products and services that are sold to or [Page 425]provided for other individuals or organizations. According to their usage, many goods (e.g., cars, telephones, or personal computers) can be categorized either as consumer goods or as capital goods.

The term consumer traditionally refers to the ultimate user of products, ideas, and services. Beyond that, the term is also used to characterize the buyer or decision maker. A mother buying ...