WASHINGTON -- The number of brand-new quarters
supplied to American banks by the U.S.
Mint fell 61.55% from 2008 levels. The
number of brand-new coins of all types shipped by the
Mint -- pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and $1 dollar
pieces -- dropped 48% last year.
These figures were among those issued by the Mint,
indicating that the severity of America's economic
recession has caused the U.S. Federal Reserve
System to experience a sharply lower need to replenish
inventory and fulfill commercial demand for coins in
2009.
Shipments of new quarters fell from 2.5 billion in 2008
to just 965 million in 2009. Deliveries of new dollar
coins fell 3.37% from 475 million in 2008 to 459
million in 2009. Total shipments of coins from the Mint
to the Federal Reserve were 5.2 billion coins for
calendar 2009 (which is fiscal year 2010), compared
with 10 billion units the year prior.
A separate statistical report also reflects the deep
recession and its impact on the coin machine industry.
The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S.
beer sales volumes declined in 2009 by the highest
rate seen in over half a century. Beer sales dropped
2.2%, the sharpest one-year drop since the 1950s.
Figures represent both take-home sales and on-
premise consumption.
The paper said demand was especially soft in the final
few months of 2009. Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and
MillerCoors LLC are the leading U.S. breweries,
following mergers for both companies. Beer prices from
the two leading suppliers rose about 5% last year,
contributing to weak sales.
