Final answer:
Throughout the 1920s, the purchase of goods like automobiles and radios became commonplace due to mass production and consumer credit. Marketing and the rise of consumerism led to significant cultural shifts but also paved the way to widespread debt and a prelude to the Great Depression's harsh economic realities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1920s, the types of goods people bought and the methods they used to pay for them changed significantly. The era saw mass production, which made goods once seen as luxuries more accessible and affordable. With the emergence of consumer credit, more Americans could purchase items like automobiles and radios - either manufactured or through radio kits. Credit became a means to enjoy modernity's fruits, reflecting an increased acceptance and use of it for acquiring non-essential items.
Consumerism was on the rise, and with it, a cultural shift towards more secular values. The idea of using credit was no longer seen as a negative but as a pathway to achieve a better lifestyle. This was supported by the era's emerging field of marketing, which played a pivotal role in promoting these consumer goods through mediums like radio and magazines. Unfortunately, the consequence of this new credit economy often led many into debt, displaying the darker side of the consumer culture. By the decade's end, the Great Depression would starkly remind American society of the temporary nature of material pleasures in contrast to material security.