The end-of-summer blues are hitting the beer category.
The National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for August posted a reading of 40, which indicates wholesalers are ordering less beer as summer comes to a close.
BPI readings below 50 denote a segment is in contraction, while readings above 50 shows a segment is expanding.
The August 2024 reading is in line with similar ordering patterns post-pandemic. The NBWA noted that August BPI readings in the three years following the pandemic have all been in the 40s.
“The combination of index readings for the at-risk inventory (48) and BPI (40) indicate a cautious outlook for the beer industry heading into the end of summer,” the NBWA said.
Looking at segments:
- Craft continued to spiral, with a reading of 23, 12 points lower than August 2023’s reading of 35;
- Imports remained the only beer category segment in the black, with a reading of 55, but was six points below August 2023’s 61 reading;
- FMB/seltzer posted the biggest year-over-year (YoY) trends with a nine-point gain to a reading of 36 in August 2024;
- Premium lights posted a reading of 38, 10 points lower than August 2023’s 48 reading;
- Premium regulars were steady YoY, with a 39 reading, only one point down from August 2023;
- Below premium improved its YoY trend by two points, with a reading of 45;
- Cider improved one point YoY with a reading of 30.