Recent rises in interest rates failed to dent builders merchant sales in the second quarter.
According to the new Builders Merchant Federation report, the sector’s turnover grew 9.7% on the previous quarter in the three months from April to June. This gave an annual increase to the end of June of 3.4%.
Merchants in the north continue to enjoy the fastest overall growth, with sales up 20.4% year on year. Wales was next with 14.9%.
BMF director Jeremy Hawksley said that builders merchants benefited from both continuing growth in house building and a buoyant home improvement market and he maintained that indicators for the coming months are good.
“Demand for additional living space, such as new home extensions, continues to be a major factor and home and garden improvements in the private sector are increasing,” he said. “Housing associations and local authorities are also increasing and improving the social housing stock.”
Merchants, he added, are also benefiting from a buoyant self-build market.
