Volumes Slowing, Pricing Up

Dear Client:Beer volumes continue to slow in Nielsen all-channel scans, but are still in positive territory at least. And pricing/mix remains robust. For the four weeks ending August 4, beer volumes were flat, with dollar sales up 2.7%, reports UBS citing Nielsen. That 2.7% number keeps popping up: it's the price/mix increase for the latest four weeks, twelve weeks, and 52 weeks. Beer industry pricing and trading up have remained pretty darned consistent. Volumes, however, have gone from being up