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