The National Beer Wholesalers Association's Beer Purchasers Index showed improvement for the third consecutive month in October.
NBWA reports October's BPI reading of 39 (+15 YoY from October 2025) continues the annual improvement seen in August (40, +13) and September (39, +11). This reading reflects typical fall inventory transition with seven of the last ten October surveys coming in below 50.
Coupled with a relatively higher ARI reading of 52, the results maintain the beer industry's contractionary position heading into winter.
All segments, except Imports, recorded higher year-over-year readings. Cider reached the 50 benchmark for just the second time since 2018
Looking across the segments for October:- The below premium index at 52 is 12 points higher than October 2025 and six points higher than September 2026.
- The cider segment at 50 is 14 points higher than October 2025 and six points higher than September 2026.
- The premium lights index at 40 is seven points higher than October 2025 and one point higher than September 2026.
- The FMB/seltzer index at 39 is four points higher than October 2025 but five points lower than September 2026.
- The premium regular index at 38 is four points higher than October 2025 and three points higher than September 2026.
- The import index at 37 is six points lower than October 2025 and three points lower than September 2026.
- The craft index at 24 is 10 points higher than October 2025 and one point higher than September 2026.
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