The quality and durability of some goods, like cars, has increased. Others, like home appliances have declined. It used to be, circa the 1990s or so, that a w

The quality and durability of some goods, like cars, has increased. Others, like home appliances have declined. It used to be, circa the 1990s or so, that a washing machine would last 20 years. Now 5 is pretty typical.