Consumer confidence hit a high in the third quarter of 2014 after zigzagging in earlier quarters this year, according to the latest Information Resources Inc. (IRI) MarketPulse survey.

New research from Chicago-based Mintel suggests that while craft beer drinkers might enjoy the big, bold flavors of their favorite artisanal brews, they also place a premium on what the beer says about them. For the 25-34 age group, which represents the segment's heaviest consumers, 70 percent say that the brand of beer says a lot about a person, and 66 percent say the style does the same. This strong sense of self has manifested itself in record sales for the craft beer industry, as Mintel estimates sales of craft beer — including craft-style offerings — will reach $20 billion in 2014, more than doubling sales of five years ago.

The Brewers Association (BA), Boulder, Colo., released 2013 data about U.S. craft beer industry. Craft beer rose 18 percent in volume sales, representing a total of 15.6 million barrels, and increased 20 percent in retail dollar value, making the segment the primary growth driver in the beer industry, according to the BA.

Leuven, Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) reported that its total revenue grew 1.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013, with strong revenue per hectoliter growth of 5.8 percent due to the company’s revenue management initiatives and the premiumization of its brand portfolio in key markets. On a constant geographic basis, revenue per hectoliter grew by 6.9 percent, it reports.