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Fact of the Day: Wine and Spirits Prices in Pennsylvania & Border States
Today, CF released a fact sheet on government-run liquor stores, including a comparison of average wine and spirit prices in Pennsylvania and our bordering states. Our analysis looked at the top 10 best-selling items in each of five categories for both wine and spirits (50 wine and 50 spirits products in all).
We found that average wine prices were lower in all six border states. Average savings varied from 3% lower in New Jersey to 20% lower in Maryland. Average prices for spirits were lower in Ohio, Delaware, and Maryland, but higher in West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey.
| CF Price Comparison Results (includes state sales taxes) | ||||||
| Avg. Wine Prices Compared to PA, Top 10 Selling PLCB Products per Price Category | ||||||
| Price Category | Ohio | Delaware | West Virginia | Maryland | New York | New Jersey |
| Ultra Premium | -25% | 7% | 0% | -16% | -2% | 1% |
| Super Premium | -3% | -1% | -9% | -9% | -5% | 5% |
| Premium | -7% | -6% | 5% | -29% | -21% | -11% |
| Standard | -5% | -12% | -15% | -22% | -12% | -7% |
| Value | -9% | -11% | -13% | -23% | -13% | -1% |
| Average | -10% | -5% | -6% | -20% | -11% | -3% |
| Avg. Spirit Prices Compared to PA, Top 10 Selling PLCB Products per Price Category | ||||||
| Price Category | Ohio | Delaware | West Virginia | Maryland | New York | New Jersey |
| Ultra Premium | -10% | -10% | 8% | -4% | 2% | 3% |
| Super Premium | 5% | -4% | 13% | -12% | 5% | 8% |
| Premium | -6% | -10% | 9% | -11% | 10% | 11% |
| Standard | -4% | -13% | 9% | -16% | 7% | 12% |
| Value | 1% | -8% | 15% | -3% | 14% | 11% |
| Average | -3% | -9% | 11% | -9% | 8% | 9% |
| Sales Data by Product provided by PLCB on request | ||||||
| Prepared by Commonwealth Foundation, www.CommonwealthFoundation.org | ||||||
These findings are similar to those in a price comparison study commissioned by Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and conducted by the Nielsen Company, looking at Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and the New York City metro area. This study also examined 50 wine and 50 spirits products, though not broken out by price category. Their findings, presented in testimony to the Pennsylvania House Liquor Control Committee, reveals what percentage of products have a lower price than Pennsylvania.
The Nielsen Company found that a majority of wines are less expensive in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York City metro area, and Virginia — from 61% of wines in New Jersey to 94% of wines in Delaware. Slightly more than half of wine products were more expensive in Ohio and West Virginia.
A majority of spirits were less expensive in three states and more expensive in three states and NY City.
| PLCB Commissioned Price Comparison Results | |||||||
| Wine Prices Compared to PA, Percentage of Products Lower-Priced, Top 50 Products | |||||||
| Delaware | Maryland | New Jersey | Ohio | West Virginia | New York City Metro | Virginia | |
| PA Best-Priced | 6.0% | 10.0% | 38.8% | 53.2% | 52.1% | 27.1% | 31.9% |
| Other State Best-Priced | 94.0% | 90.0% | 61.2% | 46.8% | 47.9% | 72.9% | 68.1% |
| Spirits Prices Compared to PA, Percentage of Products Lower-Priced, Top 50 Products | |||||||
| Delaware | Maryland | New Jersey | Ohio | West Virginia | New York City Metro | Virginia | |
| PA Best-Priced | 23.5% | 14.6% | 73.7% | 71.9% | 37.5% | 66.7% | 79.5% |
| Other State Best-Priced | 76.5% | 85.4% | 26.3% | 28.1% | 62.5% | 33.3% | 20.5% |
| Source: PLCB Pricing Study II – Methodology and Results Summary, Bureau of Market and Store Analytics, Testimony to PA House Liquor Control Committee, August 11, 2011 |
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