Brewers Relieve Recession With Cheap Beer

Natural Light, Busch, High Life see sales jump

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 7, 2009 1:48 PM CDT

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Brewers Relieve Recession With Cheap Beer — A man carries a case of beer as products from Coors, Miller and Anheuser-Busch are stacked in a grocery store Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

With the recession drying up cash flow, thirsty Americans are seeking out “sub-premium” beers, and brewers are marketing accordingly, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Anheuser-Busch is creating its first-ever ad campaign for Natural Light, whose sales are up 4% this year; MillerCoors is pushing Miller High Life, whose sales have risen 1.6%.

“As the market started to move, we wanted to be more competitive," says an Anheuser-Busch VP. "In the event that consumers are challenged economically and they're trading down, we have the ability to compete there.”
(More beer stories.)

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