Press Release

Press Release Jan 31, 2022

NBWA Releases January Beer Purchasers’ Index

Media contact: Erin Donar | EDonar@nbwa.org | 703-229-3702

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) released the Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for January 2022. The January 2022 total beer index reading of 46 takes the beer industry back to pre-pandemic results with a below 50 reading for the first time since April 2020. Combined with an “at-risk” inventory reading at 58, both readings are reminiscent of when the industry was frequently troubled by excess inventory and relatively lower ordering.

The components that make up the aggregate BPI this January are also more like pre-pandemic readings. Most importantly, the dramatic drop in the FMB/seltzer BPI continues, falling to 39 in January 2022 from 90 in January 2021. Meanwhile, crafts, premium lights, regular premium and below premium segments all fell below 50 for the month. The import segment is the only segment to report a solid expansionary index this January. The “at-risk” inventory measures rose above 50 for the first time since April of 2020. This reading signals supply constraints in the beer industry are beginning to alleviate. It is important to take note of the upward trend in “at-risk” inventories as supply-side challenges start to resolve and inventories continue to build.

Looking across the segments for January:

The index for imports continued into expansion territory with a reading of 71 in January 2022, significantly higher than the January 2021 reading of 59.
The craft index fell to 40 compared to the January 2021 index reading of 43.
The premium lights index posted a reading of 46, falling below 50 for the first time since March 2021.
The premium regular segment index is at 30, is back below 50 and below the January 2021 reading of 48.
The below premium segment at 38, took another hit year-over-year from the January 2021 reading of 45.
The FMB/seltzer took another big hit, falling 51 points to 39 in January 2022 from the January 2021 reading of 90.
Finally, the cider segment remains well below 50 with a reading of 28 in January 2022 compared to the January 2021 reading of 35.

The industry numbers will continue to behave erratically over the next few months as shipments, depletions and sales to consumer measures remain out of sync.

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents America’s 3,000 independent beer distributors who service every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Licensed at the federal and state levels, beer distributors get bottles, cans, cases and kegs from a brewer or importer to stores, restaurants and other licensed retail accounts through a transparent and accountable regulatory system. Distributors build brands of all sizes – from familiar domestic beers to new startup labels and imports from around the world – and generate enormous consumer choice while supporting more than 140,000 quality jobs in their home communities. Beer distributors work locally to keep communities safe by sponsoring programs to promote responsible consumption, combat drunk driving and reduce underage drinking.