During June 2018 nine-liter spirits case sales in the control states fell 5.4% over same period sales last year. June’s weak sales growth is, at least partially, attributable to last June’s strong comp (7.7%) and anomalies in the control states’ June 2018 sales reporting calendars.

Idaho (4.8%), North Carolina (5.8%), New Hampshire (3.5%), Ohio (4.1%), Virginia (3.6%), Vermont (2.5%), and West Virginia (2.6%) reported monthly growth rates exceeding their twelve-month trends. The growth rates for Alabama (-4.2%), Iowa (-2.4%), Montgomery County Maryland (-3.5%), Maine (-4.9%), Michigan (-16.8%), Mississippi (-12.5%), Montana (-0.4%), Oregon (2.2%), Pennsylvania (-18.8%), Utah (-11.0%), and Wyoming (-5.5%) fell short of their twelve-month trends. Control state rolling-twelve-month volume growth, 2.0%, fell short of May’s reported 3.2%. Volumes in the control states grew 2.0% year-to-date compared to 3.0% a year ago.

Control state spirits shelf dollars were down 3.1% during June while trending at 4.5% during the past twelve months. Idaho (7.0%), Montgomery County Maryland (2.4%), North Carolina (7.6%), New Hampshire (3.3%), Oregon (5.1%), Virginia (5.6%), Vermont (5.4%), and West Virginia (5.4%) reported growth rates exceeding their twelve-month trends, while Alabama (-1.0%), Iowa (-0.1%), Maine (0.8%), Michigan (-15.6%), Mississippi (-11.7%), Montana (-0.4%), Ohio (6.9%), Pennsylvania (-16.2%), Utah (-8.0%), and Wyoming (-5.0%) grew shelf dollars at rates below theirs. Shelf dollars in the control states are up 4.2% year-to-date compared to 5.2% last year.

Price/Mix for June is 2.3%, nearly flat with May’s 2.4%. 

June’s Control State spirits nine-liter case and shelf dollar growth rates were effected by anomalies in the Control States’ sales reporting calendars and last year’s robust comp:

  • Utah, with 3% of Control States’ spirits nine-liter case volumes and 2% of Control States’ dollars, reported four weeks of sales this June versus five weeks of sales during June 2017, artificially deflating sales and skewing Control States results. Utah had four fewer selling days during this year’s June than during last year’s.
  • Pennsylvania, with 15% of Control States’ spirits nine-liter case volumes and 14% of Control States’ dollars, reported four weeks of sales this June versus five weeks of sales during June 2017, artificially deflating sales and skewing Control States results. Pennsylvania had seven fewer selling days during this year’s June than during last year’s.
  • Michigan, with 15% of Control States’ spirits nine-liter case volumes and 17% of Control States’ dollars, reported four weeks of sales this June versus five weeks of sales during June 2017, artificially deflating sales and skewing Control States results. Michigan had seven fewer selling days during this year’s June than during last year’s.
  • Overall, June 2018 had seventeen fewer selling days, 3.3% fewer, than last year’s June.
  • After equivalizing nine-liter spirits case sales with respect to selling-day variations, June’s volumetric growth is 1.5%, and rolling-twelve-month volume is up 2.2%. Likewise, after equivalizing shelf dollars, June’s shelf dollar growth rate is 4.2% with a twelve-month trend of 4.6%. 
    • June’s equivalized Price/Mix is 2.7%.  

Irish Whiskey, with 1% share of the nine-liter case control states spirits market, was June’s fastest growing category with 2.5% growth reported and a twelve-month trend of 13.4%. Vodka, with 35% share, grew during the same periods at -5.1% and 1.7%, respectively. No category grew during June at a monthly rate exceeding its twelve-month trend, while Brandy/Cognac (-10.0%), Canadian Whiskey (-6.5%), Cocktails (1.2%), Cordials (-8.5%), Domestic Whiskey (-3.4%), Gin (-6.8%), Irish Whiskey (2.5%), Rum (-8.2%), Scotch (-7.9%), Tequila (1.6%), and Vodka (-5.1%) grew at rates below theirs.

June’s nine-liter wine case sales growth rate was -12.8%. Pennsylvania (reporting -17.9% nine-liter case growth for wines), New Hampshire (--1.6%), Utah (-13.3%), Mississippi (-8.4%), Montgomery County Maryland (-6.6%), and Wyoming (-4.9%) are the control states that are the sole wholesalers of wines and spirits within their geographical boundaries. Rolling-twelve-month wine volume growth in these six control states was -1.1%, down from May’s reported 1.5%.
 

 

9L Cases CM % Chg

Shelf $ CM % Chg

Price/Mix

 Control States

Total Control States 

-5.4

-3.1

2.3%

 

Central Region 

-11.0

-8.8

2.2%

 IA, MD, MI, OH, PA, WV

NE Region 

0.9

2.8

1.9%

 ME, NH, VT

NW Region 

-0.9

1.6

2.5%

 ID, MT, OR, UT, WY

Southern Region 

0.8

3.4

2.6%

 AL, MS, NC, VA

 

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ABOUT NABCA

Established in 1938, NABCA is the national association representing the Control State Systems - those jurisdictions that directly control the distribution and sale of beverage alcohol within their borders. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, NABCA’s mission is to support member jurisdictions in their efforts to protect public health and safety and assure responsible and efficient systems for beverage alcohol distribution and sales. For more information about the NABCA, visit www.nabca.org.