Who among the following is NOT a middleman?

The consumer is NOT a middleman. A middleman is a person or company that acts as an intermediary between the producer of a product or service and the end consumer. They buy goods from the manufacturer or producer and sell them to the end consumer for a profit. In the given options, the retailer, broker, factor, and wholesaler all act as middlemen. They are involved in the buying and selling of products, and their main aim is to make a profit by selling the products at a higher price than they bought them for. However, the consumer is the end-user of the product or service. They do not buy products in order to resell them or make a profit, but rather to consume or use them for their own needs. In conclusion, the consumer is not considered a middleman as they are the end-user of the product or service and do not engage in the buying and selling of products for profit.