Consumer needs or Consumer's needs?

[jhol98]

Hi,

Any teacher could help me on this? To my understanding, Consumer's needs is the correct one but I have just came across a context in a book saying "Consumer needs". Likewise, a boy's cap, my dad's computer, Our school's football team.
The latter not similar to "the consumer's needs"

many thanks

[emsr2d2]

Hi,

Any teacher could help me on this? To my understanding, Consumer's needs is the correct one but I have just came across a context in a book saying "Consumer needs". Likewise, a boy's cap, my dad's computer, Our school's football team.
The latter not similar to "the consumer's needs"

many thanks

You're right, they're not similar. In your latter examples, they refer to a specific item belonging to a specific person or institution (boy, dad, school).

The former refers to "the needs of the consumer" where the consumer is not a specific person. We use phrases like this to describe unspecific people within a specific group.

Student loans.
Consumer need[s].
Consumer demand.
Police brutality.

We wouldn't use the article before the noun in those examples.

Student loans are at an all-time high.
There is a huge problem with police brutality.
The industry is led by consumer need.

[jhol98]

Opppss It 's kind of "compound noun"

crystal clear many thanks!