During May nine-liter spirits case sales in the control states grew 8.0% over same period sales last year. Iowa (6.3%), Idaho (5.5%), Michigan (30.2%), Mississippi (6.9%), Montana (7.4%), North Carolina (5.1%), Ohio (6.5%), Oregon (4.3%), Utah (30.0%), Virginia (3.5%), Vermont (4.7%), West Virginia (11.3%), and Wyoming (7.0%) reported monthly growth rates exceeding their twelve-month trends. The growth rates for Alabama (1.8%), Maine (1.2%), Montgomery County Maryland (-2.5%), New Hampshire (-2.0%), and Pennsylvania (0.5%) fell short of their twelve-month trends. Control state rolling-twelve-month volume growth, 3.2%, improved upon April’s reported 2.8%. Volumes in the control states grew 3.8% year-to-date compared to 2.0% a year ago.
Control state spirits shelf dollars were up 10.4% during May while trending at 5.8% during the past twelve months. Alabama (6.6%), Iowa (7.0%), Idaho (7.8%), Maine (8.3%), Montgomery County Maryland (4.2%), Michigan (32.0%), Mississippi (7.5%), Montana (8.8%), North Carolina (6.9%), Ohio (9.9%), Oregon (7.3%), Utah (32.2%), Virginia (5.2%), Vermont (5.9%), and West Virginia (16.3%) reported growth rates exceeding their twelve-month trends, while New Hampshire (-0.6%), Pennsylvania (1.1%), and Wyoming (5.0%) grew shelf dollars at rates below theirs. Shelf dollars in the control states are up 6.4% year-to-date compared to 4.0% last year.
Price/Mix for May is 2.4%, nearly flat with April’s 2.5%.
May’s Control State spirits nine-liter case and shelf dollar growth rates were effected by the Control States’ reporting calendars:
- Utah, with 2.6% of Control States’ spirits nine-liter case volumes and 2.4% of Control States’ dollars, reported five weeks of sales this May versus four weeks of sales during May 2017, artificially inflating sales and skewing Control States results. Utah had five more selling days during this year’s May than during last year’s.
- - Michigan, with 16.6% of Control States’ spirits nine-liter case volumes and 15.4% of Control States’ dollars, reported five weeks of sales this May versus four weeks of sales during May 2017, artificially inflating sales and skewing Control States results. Michigan had seven more selling days during this year’s May than during last year’s.
- Overall, May 2018 had twelve more selling days, 2.2% more, than last year’s May.
- After equivalizing nine-liter spirits case sales with respect to selling-day variations, May’s volumetric growth is 3.9%, and rolling-twelve-month volume is up 2.4%. Likewise, after equivalizing shelf dollars, May’s control states shelf dollar growth rate is 6.0% with a twelve-month trend of 4.7%.
- May’s equivalized Price/Mix is 2.1%.
Cocktails, with 2% share of the nine-liter case control states spirits market, was May’s fastest growing category with 19.2% growth reported and a twelve-month trend of 5.9%. Cocktails rise to the top of the category growth hierarchy during May was fueled by brisk sales of low-proof cocktail mixers in Michigan and Iowa. Vodka, with 35% share, grew during the same periods at 8.4% and 2.8%, respectively. Brandy/Cognac (3.4%), Canadian Whiskey (6.8%), Cocktails (19.2%), Cordials (5.8%), Domestic Whiskey (7.7%), Gin (4.9%), Rum (7.4%), Scotch (2.5%), Tequila (14.7%), and Vodka (8.4%) grew at rates greater than their twelve-month trends, while Irish Whiskey (14.3%) grew at a rate below its.
May’s nine-liter wine case sales growth rate was 1.2%. Pennsylvania (reporting -2.0% nine-liter case growth for wines), New Hampshire (-0.8%), Utah (23.8%), Mississippi (12.8%), Montgomery County Maryland (0.5%), and Wyoming (-0.4%) 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 1.5%, down slightly from April’s reported 1.3%.
|
9L Cases CM % Chg |
Shelf $ CM % Chg |
Price/Mix |
Control States |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Control States |
8.0 |
10.4 |
2.4% |
|
|
Central Region |
11.1 |
13.6 |
2.5% |
IA, MD, MI, OH, PA, WV |
|
NE Region |
-0.2 |
3.1 |
3.3% |
ME, NH, VT |
|
NW Region |
9.5 |
11.6 |
2.1% |
ID, MT, OR, UT, WY |
|
Southern Region |
4.2 |
6.3 |
2.1% |
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.