NABCA Releases Control States Nine-Liter Spirits Sales Results for June

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Aug. 15, 2019 - PRLog -- — During June, nine-liter control states spirits case sales grew -0.8% over same period sales last year despite a weak -5.4% comp. Montgomery County Maryland(-0.8%) reported a monthly growth rate for June that exceeded its twelve-month trend. Alabama(-4.7%), Iowa(-2.5%), Idaho(0.3%), Maine(-2.7%), Michigan(2.3%), Mississippi(0.3%), Montana(-1.7%), New Hampshire(-12.2%), North Carolina(-0.8%), Ohio(-3.4%), Oregon(1.3%), Pennsylvania(1.9%), Utah(2.8%), Vermont(-3.7%), Virginia(1.0%), West Virginia(2.0%), and Wyoming(-1.0%) grew at rates that fell short of their twelve-month trends. Control state rolling-twelve-month volume growth, 3.4%, improved upon May's reported 3.0%. Spirits volumes grew 3.3% year-to-date compared to 2.1% a year ago.

Control state spirits shelf dollars grew at 2.0% during June while trending at 6.4% during the past twelve months. Montgomery County Maryland(1.8%) grew shelf dollars during June at a rate exceeding its twelve-month trend. Alabama(-3.8%), Iowa(1.2%), Idaho(2.1%), Maine(-1.1%), Michigan(4.9%), Mississippi(3.2%), Montana(-0.7%), New Hampshire(-6.9%), North Carolina(3.0%), Ohio(-0.5%), Oregon(3.0%), Pennsylvania(4.1%), Utah(5.5%), Vermont(0.0%), Virginia(4.5%), West Virginia(4.8%), and Wyoming(-7.9%) grew shelf dollars at rates lagging their twelve-month trends. Shelf dollars in the control states are up 6.1% year-to-date compared to 4.8% last year-to-date.

Price/Mix for June is 2.8%, nearly flat with May's 2.9%.

• June's growth rate was effected by calendar related reporting anomalies in the control States and a restatement of sales in Ohio. Specifically,
• This year's June had five Sundays versus four last year. There are five control states—Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Utah—whose retail outlets that sell spirits are closed on Sundays.
• As of March 2019, retail outlets in West Virginia, which previously were closed on Sunday, are now open for business. Spirit retailers in West Virginia had four additional selling days during this year's June compared to last year's.
• New Hampshire reported four weeks of sales this June compared to five weeks last year, artificially deflating sales and skewing state results.
• There were six fewer selling days, 1.2% fewer, in the control states during this year's June compared to June last year.
• June 2018 had five Fridays and four Sundays versus four Fridays and five Sundays this June. On average, Sunday's weekly share of business is 8% whereas Friday's is 22%.

For the full release, visit the NABCA website at https://www.nabca.org/news-release/control-state-results-june-2019-0