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Consumer Prices

9:17 P.M.: Nightcap

Home. Check e-mail, see that paycheck has been deposited in checking. Median weekly earnings gain over the past year, as of Mar. 31: 3.8%. Adjusted for inflation: -0.3%. Open a beer. Beer prices have edged up but are projected to move higher. The price of ordinary hops is up more than 20%.

Way to Play It: Anheuser-Busch (BUD) and Boston Beer (SAM) have warned that their profits will suffer from higher hops and barley costs. Morningstar analyst Ann Gilpin prefers Molson Coors (TAP), which is handling the cost increases better than its rivals thanks to an earlier cost-cutting round, and which stands to benefit from a new joint venture with European rival SABMiller (SBMRY).