What economic role refers to someone who buys products for personal use?

The economic role that refers to someone who buys products for personal use is the consumer. Consumers are individuals or entities that purchase goods and services to meet their personal needs or desires. This role is essential in the economy because consumer purchasing decisions drive demand for products, which in turn influences production and market trends.

In a market economy, consumers play a vital part in determining price levels and influencing the types of products available. For example, if a large number of consumers begin to favor eco-friendly products, producers may shift their production strategies to meet this new demand.

In contrast, producers create goods or provide services, suppliers are entities that provide the goods to be traded or sold, and distributors are responsible for delivering products from producers to consumers. Each of these roles is critical in the economic system, but the consumer is specifically focused on the purchase and consumption of goods for personal use.