What is the difference between industrial and consumer goods?

Industrial goods are products that are manufactured to allow factories to produce goods for the public. Demand for industrial goods is dependent on the demand for consumer goods. If consumers want more electronics, industrial goods are produced that allow electronics to be manufactured. Examples of industrial goods would include machines, plants, or individual parts for machinery. Raw materials like coal and iron are also considered industrial goods. In simple terms, industrial goods are products that are used to make consumer goods.

Consumer goods are products that are ready to be used and are sold to the public. They are not used for the production of other materials for sale. The list of consumer goods is rather lengthy. Consider all of the items that you have purchased in the last year. They are all consumer goods. Food, clothing, sporting goods and school materials are all examples of consumer goods.