2004: Beer the Comeback Kid

The US beer industry is shaping up to be healthier than last year. With easy comps due to poor weather and the war last year, US beer depletions (STRs) are estimated to be up in the 1% to 1.5% range across all channels. Domestic shipments were up 2.6% in April according to the Beer Institute, which is the third consecutive month of positive shipment growth. YTD shipments are up 1.6% through April, (compared with a 1.9% decline last year). IRI