Thursday, July 20, 2006

WINE AND SPIRITS CPI ACCELERATES IN JUNE

Spirits consumer price index (CPI) rose by 1.8% in June, up from May’s growth of 1.5% according to Merrill Lynch research. YTD, spirits CPI average growth is at 1.6%.

Wine especially got a boost with a whopping 3.3% increase, reflecting its strongest performance since Nov. 1997. Wine CPI’s growth of 2.7% YTD is “likely driven by favorable product mix as consumers’ trade up,” which will contribute to Constellation’s top line growth.