About the Beer Purchasers’ Index
By: Lester Jones, NBWA Vice President, Analytics and Chief Economist
The NBWA Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) is an informal monthly statistical release giving distributors a timely and reliable indicator of industry beer purchasing activity. BPI is the only forward-looking indicator for the industry to measure expected beer demand (one month forward) in the marketplace. Similar to the widely recognized Purchasing Managers’ Index, the BPI is a net-rising index and a leading indicator of industry performance based on survey responses from participating beer purchasers. The index surveys beer distributors’ purchases across different segments and compares them to that of previous years’ purchases. A reading greater than 50 indicates the segment is expanding, while a reading below 50 indicates the segment is contracting.
The Latest Data
The combination of index readings for at-risk inventory (48) and the beer purchasers’ index (48) reflects a slightly cautious outlook for distributor sentiment approaching the year’s end. The current BPI reading of 48 reflects a four-point recovery from last year’s reading of 44.
Notable results include four segments posting higher readings in December 2024 compared to the previous year. Specifically, the Below Premium segment showed significant growth, with a reading of 45 — an 18-point increase year-over-year.
Overall, the index for December 2024 remains slightly below the 10-year average for the month but demonstrates improvement over the past three years.
Looking across the segments for December:
- The index for imports continues to point to expanding volumes, with a December 2024 reading of 67 — one point lower than December 2023 reading of 68.
- The craft index at 30 for December 2024 continues to signal contraction in this segment and remains the same as December 2023 reading of 30.
- The premium lights index rose to 53 for December 2024, three points higher than December 2023 reading at 50. The premium light segment is one of four segments to post a higher reading in December 2024 compared to 2023.
- The premium regular index fell to 42 for December 2024, six points lower than the December 2023 reading at 48.
- The below premium segment for December 2024 at 45 is eighteen points higher than the December 2023 reading of 27. The below premium segment is one of four segments to post a higher reading in December 2024 compared to 2023.
- The FMB/seltzer reading for December 2024 at 45 is ten points higher than the December 2023 reading at 35. The FMB segment is one of four segments to post a higher reading in December 2024 compared to 2023
- Finally, the cider segment posted a December 2024 reading at 38 compared to 32 for December 2023. The cider segment is the last of four segments to post a higher reading in December 2024 compared to 2023.
Beer Distributors
Please sign up to participate and receive the first and only advance notice of expectations for increasing or decreasing sales. Complete the form below using your company’s primary beer purchaser’s contact information. For additional information, please email bpi@nbwa.org.
Beer Distributor Expectations Sign Up
Sign up to participate and receive the first and only advance notice of expectations for increasing or decreasing sales!