December Swerve, January Surge?

Dear Client:Yesterday we reported that U.S. domestic beer shipments were down roughly 8.2% -- 3.8% on a selling day adjusted basis -- in December. Part of that was due to beer distributor inventories, which were reduced between roughly 10%-12% in the month -- about twice the prior year's rate of reduction.NBWA economist Lester Jones offered more perspective: "Why pay $18/$7 per barrel in December when you can pay $16/$3.50 in January? Any brewer that could hold back a late December