The Brewers Association released mid-year data on the U.S. craft brewing industry, which showed a 15 percent increase in dollar sales and 13 percent jump in volume in the first half of 2013. Additionally, the total U.S. brewery count is now at 2,538 breweries, the highest since the 1870s. During the first half of 2013, approximately 7.3 million barrels of beer were sold by small and independent craft brewers, up from 6.4 million barrels over the first half of 2012. American craft beer continues to grow despite decreased overall beer sales, which were down two percent through the first six months of the year.