About the Beer Purchasers’ Index
By: Lester Jones, NBWA Vice President, Analytics and Chief Economist
The NBWA Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) is an informal monthly statistical release giving distributors a timely and reliable indicator of industry beer purchasing activity. BPI is the only forward-looking indicator for the industry to measure expected beer demand (one month forward) in the marketplace. Similar to the widely recognized Purchasing Managers’ Index, the BPI is a net-rising index and a leading indicator of industry performance based on survey responses from participating beer purchasers. The index surveys beer distributors’ purchases across different segments and compares them to that of previous years’ purchases. A reading greater than 50 indicates the segment is expanding, while a reading below 50 indicates the segment is contracting.
The Latest Data
As America’s beer distributors prepare for the summer selling season, the combined index readings for BPI (52) and at-risk inventory (39) — the lowest mark since 2021 — keep the industry in expansionary territory.
The May BPI reading of 52 is the third consecutive month at or above 50 and a seven-point increase from May 2025.
Segment readings cooled from a strong April, but all except Craft posted year-over-year gains. Premium Regular reached its highest level since July 2024 and FMB/Seltzer notched its first three-month streak of 40+ readings since 2021.
Looking across the segments for May:
- The imports index at 51 is nine points higher than May 2025 and 13 points lower than April 2026.
- The craft index at 18 is two points lower than May 2025 and six points lower than April 2026.
- The premium lights index at 40 is three points higher than May 2025 and 19-points lower than April 2026.
- The premium regular index at 49 is seven points higher than May 2025 and one point higher than April 2026.
- The below premium index at 49 is two points higher than May 2025 and one point lower than April 2026.
- The FMB/seltzer index at 47 is eight points higher than May 2025 and nine points lower than April 2026.
- The cider index at 44 is 11-points higher than May 2025 and one point lower than April 2026.
Beer Distributors
Please sign up to participate and receive the first and only advance notice of expectations for increasing or decreasing sales. Complete the form below using your company’s primary beer purchaser’s contact information. For additional information, please email bpi@nbwa.org.
Beer Distributor Expectations Sign Up
Sign up to participate and receive the first and only advance notice of expectations for increasing or decreasing sales!