US Breweries

U.S. beer volume sales declined 1.2 percent through the first 50 days of the year, according to recent data from market research firm IRI Worldwide. The company, which tracks category-wide sales trends at off-premise retail outlets, said total beer dollar sales were up just 0.1 percent through February 19 in its multi-outlet and convenience (MULC) store universe (which includes grocery, drug, Wal-Mart, club, dollar, mass-merchandiser and military stores).

Thanks in part to the craft beer boom, the beer industry has a bigger economic impact that that of wine or video games, studies show.

Small and independent American craft brewers make a big economic impact. $33.9 billion to the U.S. economy in 2012, as well as more than 360,000 jobs.

National beer sales and production data as collected by the Brewers Association.