"DEFINITION of 'Consumer Staples'
Essential products such as food, beverages, tobacco and household items. Consumer staples are goods that people are unable or unwilling to cut out of their budgets regardless of their financial situation. Consumer staples stocks are considered non-cyclical, meaning that they are always in demand, no matter how well the economy is performing. Also, people tend to demand consumer staples at a relatively constant level, regardless of their price."
( http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/consumerstaples.asp )
