It cost more to go out for a drink last month than it did a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) February 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.
The CPI for total beverage-alcohol away from home increased +3.4% last month compared to February 2024. By comparison, the CPI for all items increased +2.8% year-over-year (YoY).
Spirits away from home recorded the largest YoY increase in CPI at +5%, followed by beer away from home (+3.2%) and wine away from home (+1.6%).
Total alcohol – both at home and away from home – increased +1.7% YoY and +0.5% month-over-month (MoM).
At home, all bev-alc categories posted CPI increases well below overall inflation in February. However, beer at home (+1.5%) continued to outpace the total industry (+0.4% YoY). Wine at home was about flat (+0.1%), and the CPI for spirits at home declined -0.9% YoY.
Spirits at home also declined -0.4% MoM, the only bev-alc metric to do so. Total alcohol at home increased +0.5% MoM, slightly outpacing its YoY increase. Wine at home recorded the largest MoM increase at +0.8%, followed by beer at home (+0.6%).
Spirits away from home increased +1.5% MoM, followed by total alcohol away from home (+0.5%), beer away from home (+0.3%) and wine away from home (+0.1%).
Volatility in spirits pricing last month may be driven by the uncertainty of looming tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico.
For the four-week period ending February 23, the average price for a case of beer increased +$0.52, to $30.69, according to market research firm Circana, which tracks mutli-outlet grocery, mass retail and convenience stores.
Only domestic super premium declined in price, with the average case dropping -$0.11, to $30.36.
Hard seltzer recorded the highest increase at +$1.13, to $40.52 per case, followed by imports (+$0.70, to $37.56 per case), cider (+$0.69, to $49.03 per case), flavored malt beverages (+$0.63, to $41.53 per case), non-alcoholic beer (+$0.56, to $36.92 per case), craft (+$0.48, to $44.03 per case), domestic sub premium (+$0.40, to $19.96 per case) and domestic premium (+$0.30, to $25 per case).