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Press Release Nov 25, 2025

November Beer Purchasers’ Index Remains Flat

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

The BPI reading of 25 continued the previous months’ contractionary trend, increasing one point from October 2025. For a second straight month, cider was the only segment to show any year-over-year gains with a five-point improvement to 41 — its first reading above 40 in five years.

The combination of index readings for at-risk inventory (55) and BPI (25) places the industry in contractionary territory with continued uncertainty surrounding fourth quarter retailer and consumer demand.

 

 

Looking across the segments for November:

  • The cider segment at 41 is five points higher than both November 2024 and October 2025. This is also the first time the cider segment has hit a 40 index in over five years.
  • The imports index at 42 is 22-points lower than November 2024 and one point lower than October 2025.
  • The craft index at 15 is three points lower than November 2024 and one point higher than October 2025.
  • The premium lights index at 22 is 24-points lower than November 2024 and 11-points lower than October 2025.
  • The premium regular index at 23 is 18-points lower than November 2024 and 11-points lower than October 2025.
  • The below premium index at 37 is 13-points lower than November 2024 and three points lower than October 2025.
  • The FMB/seltzer index at 32 is two points lower than November 2024 and three points lower than October 2025

About NBWA’s Beer Purchasers’ Index: BPI is the only forward-looking indicator for distributors to measure expected beer demand. The index surveys beer distributors’ purchases across different segments and compares them to previous years. A reading greater than 50 indicates the segment is expanding, while a reading below 50 indicates the segment is contracting.

 

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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.