The NBWA Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) is an informal monthly statistical release giving distributors a timely and reliable indicator of industry beer purchasing activity.

Similar to the widely recognized Purchasing Managers’ Index, the BPI is a net rising index and a leading indicator of industry performance based on surveyed responses from participating beer purchasers. 

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.

Data for the March 2020 Beer Purchasers Index was collected from March 9 — 20, coinciding with the period of temporary on-premise closures and simultaneous increased off-premise volumes due to pantry stocking.

After two months of positive expanding beer orders in January and February, the March 2020 BPI stalled at 50. With temporary closures of on-premise establishments, the craft segment plummeted to lowest ever index recording at 35.

In addition, the “at-risk inventory” index (inventory at risk of going out of code in the next 30 days) for total beer held at 44 and has remained below the 50 mark for the past nine months. However, with temporary closures of many on-premise accounts, the craft segments “at risk” index rose to 65 in March 2020 from 58 in March 2019.

Looking across the segments: ​
 

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.