How do consumers define “necessities?”

86% classify a car as a need

Jon Boyd, Aug 29, 10.

The Pew Research Center finds that some American consumers are changing priorities over goods and services, as reported in the New York Times’ Economix blog:

For years Americans had been labeling more and more appliances and other purchases as “necessities,” rather than “luxuries.” Microwaves, computers and other wonders of modern civilization, upon being adopted in greater numbers, became more likely to be considered need-to-haves instead of nice-to-haves, according to surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center.

But now, whether because the recent downturn has reset priorities or because new technologies have replaced the old ones, many of these appliances are reverting to the “luxury” category.

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