Top brewer reports lower profit as beer sales decline

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s biggest brewer, hasreported an unexpected decline in second-quarter volume and lower profit as sales fell in the US and Europe.

The volume of beer sold slid 0.1%, excluding acquisitions and disposals. Analysts had anticipated growth, with the median of eight estimates for a 1.3% gain.

Revenue was hurt by reduced shipments to US wholesalers, sales to whom fell 2.1%, said the Leuven, Belgium-based company.