The Consumer Staples sector, also known as consumer non-cyclical or simply as consumer defensive stocks, is one of 11 primary sectors of the S&P 500 index. That classification extends to smaller stocks as well as those outside of the US market. What is a consumer staple? Everyday items that consumers tend to purchase regularly and with less regard to cost than, say, cars, TVs, and leisure travel, are referred to on Wall Street as staples. They are the things we need, not the things we want. Examples include ...