The National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for July marked the second consecutive month of positive ordering trends for a majority of segments, including a 14-point jump for premium regular (50 reading).
“Slightly higher ordering rates and lower inventories point to positive quarterly trends,” NBWA chief economist Lester Jones noted.
Overall, the BPI stayed in expansion territory with a reading of 54 (an index above 50 denotes expansion, while below 50 indicates contraction). Meanwhile, the at-risk inventory measure posted a 44 reading, its first reading below 50 since February.
A few highlights:
- Imports’ July reading of 70 continued “to point to expanding volumes,” three points higher than the July 2022 reading (67).
- Craft appears to have “bottomed out and may see higher levels of ordering in the future,” the NBWA said. In July, craft contracted again (39), but improved seven points compared to July 2022 (32).
- FMB/seltzer’s July trends also suggest the segment has “bottomed out and may see higher levels of ordering in the future.” FMB/seltzer posted a 30 reading, up two points from July 2022 (28).
- Premium lights expanded with a reading of 54, nine points higher than July 2022 (45).
- Below premium saw “a big downward shift,” with a reading of 39, falling below the July 2022 reading (52) and ending a year-long streak of expansion.
- Cider contracted (32) but improved compared to July 2022 (29)