Data from the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) shows a relatively slower summer selling season in 2025 compared to 2024 means distributors are entering the fall with relatively higher inventories and will likely purchase less from their suppliers.
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.
For August 2025, the BPI fell to 27 from the August 2024 reading of 40. The BPI metric reflects distributors’ expected current orders to suppliers to meet expected demand for the coming months; it does not measure sales to consumers.
The contractionary (<50) reading for the August BPI continues a trend from the past three years. Combined with an increase in the at-risk inventory measure to the benchmark (50), these readings signal a shift to a contractionary outlook for the beer market.
BPI for August 2025
- The imports index at 43 is 12 points lower than August 2024
- The craft index at 14 is nine points lower than August 2024
- The premium lights index at 36 is two points lower than August 2024
- The premium regular index at 34 is five points lower than August 2024
- The below premium index at 35 is ten points lower than August 2024
- The FMB/seltzer index at 39 is three points above August 2024
- The cider segment at 39 is nine points above August 2024.
