Consumer durables (AN.m)

7.63 Consumer durables are durable goods used by households repeatedly over periods of time of more than one year for final consumption. They are included in the balance sheets only as memorandum items. Their inclusion as a component of the balance sheet would be appropriate if the system postulated that the durables were gradually used up in production processes whose outputs consist of services. But consumer durables are not treated in this way.

7.64 The stocks of consumer durables held by households – transport equipment and other machinery and equipment – are to be valued at current prices, both gross and net of accumulated charges equivalent to consumption of fixed capital. The figures shown as memorandum items in the balance sheet should be net of these accumulated charges.

7.65 Durable goods owned by owners of unincorporated enterprises may be used partly by the enterprise for production and partly by members of the household for final consumption. The values shown in the balance sheet for the enterprise should reflect the proportion of the use that is attributable to the enterprise.