Beer sales show a sign of recovery in the UK

Pub owners will be pleased to hear that beer sales are likely to recover over 2010.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) announced that sales in the final quarter of 2009 experienced the smallest decline in the fourth quarter since 2006. This suggests that the slump experienced in the industry may be finally over.

According to the BBPA's report, although 2009 saw a 5.2% drop overall, this has been seen as a significant improvement on the previous year's 9.3% drop.

The Chief Executive of the BBPA, Brigid Simmonds, commented that the figures indicate that the sector is "starting to claw its way out of a recessionary slump."

Ms Simmonds added that the figures suggest that the downturn in the economy, along with duty increases in excess of 20% was a "significant driver of problems in the pub sector over the last 12 to 18 months."

The BBPA believe that the beer and pub sector will move into recovery along with the UK's economy and, in-line with previous recessions, may "emerge first and fastest."

Despite this, they have warned that it is still too early to see if these signs of a fragile recovery are sustainable in the long-term.

29/01/10