Consumer goods are the final product output by manufacturing companies for retail to the general public in response to the perception of the needs and wants of the consumer. The market research for consumer goods focuses on the tangible products available for purchase by customers.

This industry segment includes only new products manufactured and available for sale - the resale of used goods is not taken into account in this analysis. Examples of consumer goods include jewelry, cars, food items, and/or apparel.

Consumer goods are broken down into three sub-groups: durable consumer goods, non-durable consumer goods, and consumer services. Durable goods include items that typically last over a significant time span, and as such they often have a higher price point due to their longevity and process of production for these goods.