28/01/2010 - Beer market shows recovery signs
People are starting to buy beer again as a recent recession-led sales drought begins to slow, research has shown.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said that although sales were still declining, the rate of the fall was the lowest for two years. The figures showed that UK sales for the last three months of 2009 were down 3.6% on the same period in 2008.
However, the figure brought good news as it was the lowest fourth-quarter fall for pubs and supermarkets combined since 2006. The BBPA announced the figure in its latest UK Quarterly Beer Barometer, which also showed that sales for 2009 fell 4.2%. This was lower than last year's 5.5% drop.
BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "These figures show a sector starting to claw its way out of a recessionary slump. They also signal the most significant driver of problems in the pub sector over the last 12 to 18 months has been the downturn in the economy and the slide into recession, along with duty increases of over 20%. As the economy moves into recovery, so will the beer and pub sector. In fact, as in previous recessions, it may emerge first and fastest."
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