With consumer confidence trending lower, as measured by both the Conference Board and the University of Michigan, concerns over the affordability of ready-to-drink beverages is intensifying. Today’s newsletter captures the tension between consumers protecting their budgets and beverage companies protecting their margins.

The lead story on page 3 checks in with Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper bottlers to see how they are coping with rising commodity prices, softening pricing growth, and weakening volume performance. BD informally surveyed bottlers in May. Almost two months later, how are bottlers faring and feeling? The short answer: ...

BD annually surveys Fourth of July holiday promotions for three grocery chains in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami for an informal look at how the deal environment for soft drinks and other beverage categories is ...