Press Release

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) released the Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) for January 2024.

America’s beer distributors reported continued year-over-year improvement for nearly all market segments, led by a nearly 20-point upward swing for the flavored malted beverage/hard seltzer category.

In an inverse of January 2023, in which only one segment (Below Premium) recorded a higher reading compared to the previous year, the January 2024 report shows increased YoY ordering volumes for all segments except Below Premium. This marks the eighth straight month in which at least five of the seven measured segments saw increased ordering compared to the previous year.

The readings for all categories except Imports remain below the contraction line (50), with the BPI (43) and at-risk inventory (42) measures indicating that ordering levels remain cautious as the industry puts a turbulent 2023 in the rearview mirror.

Looking across the segments for January:

• The index for imports continues to point to expanding volumes with January 2024 reading at 59 higher than January 2023 reading of 52.
• The craft index at 28 for January 2024 continues to signal contraction in this segment; however, it is slightly higher than the January 2023 reading of 21.
• The premium light index is mostly flat at 38 for January 2024 compared to the January 2023 reading of 37.
• The premium regular index rose to 43 for January 2024, above the January 2023 reading of 27.
• The below premium segment for January 2024 fell to 33 from 48 and is the only segment lower than its January 2023 reading.
• The FMB/seltzer reading for January 2024 of 35 is higher than the January 2023 reading of 18.
• Finally, the cider segment posted a January 2024 reading of 30 compared to 26 for January 2023.

###

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.