U.S. beer sales drop 6.3% amid rising gas prices and consumer pressure

U.S. beer, malt beverage, and cider sales fell 6.3% year-over-year through early May, reversing earlier improvements. Higher gasoline prices, especially in states like California, Arizona, and Texas, are pressuring convenience store sales, which are down about 9%. This decline signals broader consumer spending challenges as U.S. consumer confidence hits multi-year lows. Some brewers like Michelob Ultra remain stable, but others face significant volume drops, reflecting uneven impacts across the industry.