Press Release

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) released the Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for April 2025.

The April Beer Purchasers’ Index recorded a year-over-year decrease to 38 while the at-risk inventory measure rose to 54. The combination of these index readings continues to place the industry in contractionary territory.

Across the segments, FMB/Seltzer recorded its 14th consecutive month of YoY improvement — the segment’s first such streak since 2019/2020. The Imports segment returned to expansionary territory following its first month in contraction since 2020.

Looking across the segments for April:

• The index for imports inched into expansionary territory with an April 2025 reading of 51, 22 points below last April’s reading of 73.
• The craft index at 20 for April 2025 continues to signal contraction in this segment and is 16-points lower than the April 2024 reading at 36.
• The premium lights index fell to 38 for April 2025, 25-points lower than the April 2024 reading at 63.
• The premium regular index fell to 37 for April 2025, 22-points lower than the April 2024 reading at 59.
• The below premium segment for April 2025 at 46 is seven-points lower than the April 2024 reading of 53.
• The FMB/seltzer reading for April 2025 at 43 is three-points higher than the April 2024 reading at 40. The FMB segment is the only segment to post a higher reading in April 2025 compared to April 2024.
• Finally, the cider segment posted an April 2025 reading at 29 compared to 39 for April 2024.

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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 135,000 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.