Star Tribune (February 21)
Hit by higher costs for barley, a can shortage and soaring shipping costs, “even the world’s largest beer manufacturers are passing on their higher costs to consumers.” Up to now, “consumers have taken it in stride. Just as higher grocery bills are offset by dining out less, a bigger tab at liquor stores is being absorbed by a lack of travel and entertainment expenses.” Even so, there are worries we may be reaching a turning point where consumption will fall.
Tags: Barley, Beer, Can, Consumers, Dining out, Entertainment, Groceries, Higher costs, Manufacturers, Shipping, Shortage, Soaring, Travel, Turning-point
The Economist (August 19)
China has already become the world’s biggest beer market. Moreover, it’s growing at a rapid annual rate of 10%. The Economist feels China is a market with “huge potential.” Per capita figures make the potential obvious. Annually, China consumes 31 liters of beer per person versus 49 in Japan, 79 in the U.S. and a whopping 161 in the Czech Republic.
Tags: Beer, China, Japan, U.S. Czech Republic
