USA: Craft beer segment records its biggest reading of the year in Beer Purchasers� Index

While still in contractionary territory (<50), the craft segment recorded its highest reading of the year in the National Beer Wholesalers Association�s Beer Purchasers� Index (BPI), Craft Brewing Business reported on August 4.

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.

The overall BPI reading of 42 marks a 17-point decline from July 2024 but a 12-point month-to-month improvement from June 2025. The combination of index readings for at-risk inventory (43) and BPI (42) places the beer industry firmly in a cautionary holding pattern for the summer.

Across BPI segments:

� The imports index at 50 is 12 points above June 2025 and 23 points lower than July 2024

� The craft index at 25 is 10 points above June 2025 and five points lower than July 2024

� The premium lights index at 38 is five points above June 2025 and 25 points lower than July 2024

� The premium regular index at 41 is 10 points above June 2025 and 17 points lower than July 2024

� The below premium index at 48 is three points above June 2025 and 14 points lower than July 2024

� The FMB/seltzer index at 39 is seven points lower than June 2025 and the same as July 2024

� The cider segment at 38 is five points higher than June 2025 and two points higher than July 2024 � the only segment to post a higher reading relative to the prior year