Beer sales showing signs of recovery

28/01/2010 11:12:38

Beer sales are likely to recover in the coming year, people in pub jobs will be pleased to hear.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), sales in the final quarter of 2009 experienced the smallest fourth-quarter decline since 2006, suggesting that the slump may be over.

Overall sales fell by 3.6 per cent over the three-month period, with pub beer sales dropping five per cent.

In shops and supermarkets, beer sales dropped 2.1 per cent in the final three months of 2009.

Over the year as a whole, overall sales slumped 5.2 per cent, however this was an improvement on the 9.3 per cent drop in 2008.

Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, commented: "These figures show a sector starting to claw its way out of a recessionary slump."

However, she added that it is too early to see if these signs of a fragile recovery will be sustained.

The BBPA is currently running its I'm Backing the Pub campaign, aimed at promoting and supporting local pubs.

Pub jobs in the UK

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