NBWA - National Beer Wholesalers Association Inc.

07/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/31/2026 07:03

Beer Industry Maintains Expansionary Footing

Press Release Jul 30, 2026

Beer Industry Maintains Expansionary Footing

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) released the Beer Purchasers' Index (BPI) for July 2026.

The July reading of 51 marks the fifth consecutive reading at or above 50 and another month of significant improvement in industry sentiment relative to 2025 (+9 YoY). The combination of index readings for at-risk inventory (43) and BPI (51) places the industry slightly in expansion territory for the rest of the summer.

All segments recorded year-over-year improvements, led by FMB/Seltzer (+16) and Premium Lights (+14). Premium Lights crossed the 50 benchmark for just the third time in the last two years.

Looking across the segments for July:

  • The FMB/seltzer index at 55 is 16 points higher than July 2025 and eight points higher than June 2026.
  • The below premium index at 55 is seven points higher than July 2025 and five points higher than June 2026.
  • The premium lights index at 52 is 14 points higher than July 2025 and four points higher than June 2026.
  • The imports index at 51 is one point higher than July 2025 but 10 points lower than June 2026.
  • The cider segment at 48 is 10 points higher than July 2025 but two points lower than June 2026.
  • The premium regular index at 42 is one point higher than July 2025 and even with June 2026.
  • The craft index at 26 is one point higher than July 2025 and five points higher than June 2026.

About 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.

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The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents America's 3,000 independent beer distributors who service every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Licensed at the federal and state levels, beer distributors get bottles, cans, cases and kegs from a brewer or importer to stores, restaurants and other licensed retail accounts through a transparent and accountable regulatory system.

Distributors build brands of all sizes - from familiar domestic beers to new startup labels and imports from around the world - and generate enormous consumer choice while supporting more than 135,000 quality jobs in their home communities. Beer distributors work locally to keep communities safe by sponsoring programs to promote responsible consumption, combat drunk driving and reduce underage drinking.

NBWA - National Beer Wholesalers Association Inc. published this content on July 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 31, 2026 at 13:03 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]