The amount of beer at risk of expiring in the next 30 days in wholesalers’ warehouses has declined compared to both last month and September 2021, according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) September edition of the Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI).
This month’s BPI recorded a reading of 50 for “at risk” inventory – beer that is within one month of its expiration date. A reading greater than 50 indicates expansion and a reading below it indicates contraction. September 2022’s reading of 50 is less than August 2022’s at-risk reading of 54, “indicating distributors are carefully managing inventories heading into the fourth quarter,” NBWA chief economist Lester Jones wrote.
The overall beer category’s index this month was 45.5, still indicating contraction.
“Continued inflationary pressures and a slowing economy bring the industry to a fourth month of pause after five months of positive ordering trends in 2022,” Jones wrote.
The only segment in expansion territory was imports with a reading of 61, a four-point decline from September 2021’s 65 reading.
Below premiums were the only segment to record a higher reading in September 2022 (47) than in September 2021 (29).
Premium lights tied with below premiums with a reading of 47, down three points from their September 2021 reading of 50. Premium regulars declined five points to 36.
With a reading of 26, craft beer posted the steepest decline from September 2021 (44). The next steepest decline belonged to the flavored malt beverage (FMB)/hard seltzer segment, which declined -18 points from its September 2021 reading of 40 to its September 2022 reading of 24.
Cider tied FMB/hard seltzer for the lowest reading this month (24), down -10 points from its September 2021 reading of 34.