The latest Daily Drinks Tracker from CGA by NIQ showed average sales by value in managed venues were 1% up year-on-year in the seven days to Saturday 31 August.
It followed three weeks of consecutive downturns, with the previous tracker have revealed sales were 5% down compared with 2023.
Driven by good weather over the bank holiday weekend, sales on bank holiday Monday (26 August) were 1% ahead year-on-year while trading hit double digits at the end of the week, finishing 10% up against the equivalent day in 2023 on Friday 30 August.
Biggest benefit
However, sales dipped by 2% the next day, despite Premier League matches, the executive tracker indicated.
As is usually the case during warm weather, Long Alcoholic Drinks (LAD) categories felt the biggest benefit, CGA said.
Beer and cider sales rose by 4% and 5% respectively, while wine and soft drinks were both down by 1%.
The spirits category continued a long run of negative numbers, finishing 6% behind the equivalent week last August.
It comes as the average pint price in the UK was now thought to have stood at almost £5, according to exclusive data from The Morning Advertiser (MA).
Remaining hesitant
Meanwhile, just half of operators broke even over the summer, a survey conducted by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) revealed.
Furthermore, a third of operators have cut trading hours as a result of cost hikes and a drop in footfall, data from CGA by NIQ’s latest Business Confidence Survey showed.
CGA by NIQ managing director UK & Ireland Jonathan Jones said: “Although year-on-year growth of 1% may seem modest, but after a gloomy summer it does at least raise hopes of a stronger autumn.
“While many consumers clearly remain hesitant about their spending, a brighter September might help to release some of the pent-up demand for outside drinking.
“Nevertheless, real-terms growth in total sales is likely to stay challenging until consumers’ confidence picks up.”
