The National Beer Wholesalers Association’s June 2025 Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) paints a sobering picture for the craft beer segment — and it’s a continuation of a trend, not an anomaly. Craft beer scored a BPI reading of just 15 this month, down from 27 a year ago and well below the industry’s expansionary threshold of 50. It’s been month after month of deep contraction, with similar readings of 20 in April and 17 in February. These numbers signal waning distributor demand and an urgent need for craft brewers to reevaluate their distribution strategies heading into the second half of the year.
While flavored malt beverages, seltzers, and even cider are showing slight signs of resilience — or at least stabilization — craft beer continues to see diminished interest from the middle tier. This likely reflects broader shifts in consumer preferences, increased price sensitivity, and saturation in the market. For craft brewers, especially those relying heavily on wholesale channels, this contraction signals a need to double down on alternative routes to market, such as direct-to-consumer models, taproom engagement, hyperlocal distribution, and packaging flexibility. With distributor shelves getting tighter, winning in 2025 might come down to strategic focus, leaner portfolios, and data-driven decisions on where and how to grow.
Looking across the segments for June:
- The index for imports fell 32-points to 38 in June 2025 from 70 in June 2024.
- The craft index at 15 for June 2025 continues to signal contraction in this segment and is 12 points lower than the June 2024 reading at 27.
- The premium lights index fell to 33 for June 2025, 19-points lower than the June 2024 reading at 52.
- The premium regular index fell to 31 for June 2025, 18-points lower than the June 2024 reading at 49.
- The below premium segment for June 2025 at 45 is 9 points lower than the June 2024 reading of 54.
- The FMB/seltzer reading for June 2025 at 46 is eight points higher than the June 2024 reading at 38.
- Finally, the cider segment posted a June 2025 reading at 33 compared to 31 for June 2024.
