How the Big Spirits Cos. Stack Up in Latest Data Sets

Dear Client:   At a market level, US spirits volumes are declining low-single digits, but at a "stable rate," according to Bernstein's latest read on the US spirits market.  For the most recent published periods (for NABCA, this meant the month of September), NABCA volumes were down 1.8% (-4.2% excluding RTDs). Spirits sales for the month were down 3.5%.  For the rolling 3 months to September, NABCA volumes were up 0.2% (-1.5% excluding RTDs).  Nielsen's most recent read, the 12