What Are Durables? Durables, also known as durable goods or consumer durables, is a category of consumer goods that do not wear out quickly, and therefore do not have to be purchased frequently. They are known as "durable goods" because they tend to last for at least three years. They are, of course, a part of core retail sales data. Some examples of durables are appliances, home and office furnishings, lawn and garden equipment, consumer electronics, toys, small tools, sporting goods, photographic equipment, jewelry, motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts, turbines, and semiconductors. Understanding Durables Durable goods derive their name from the fact that they last in value for a relatively long time. The opposite of a durable good, or a nondurable good, is milk. Milk is considered a nondurable good because it has a short shelf life and all of its economic value is consumed soon after production or purchase. An individual's wealth is preserved by spending a high propo...
