The latest figures from the May Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveal a sharp rise in sales as lockdown restrictions ease and trades return to work.
Year-on-year
Total builders merchants value sales in May were down by 39.9% compared with May 2019, reflecting the cautious reopening of merchant branches with many still operating a restricted service. However, the overall trading figures are a significant improvement on April 2020 sales (-76.3%).
All categories sold less, with tools (-66.1%) and kitchens and bathrooms (-62.7%) hit hardest by the pandemic lockdown. Timber and joinery products were also down by 40.5% over the same period, however month-on-month, the category is showing some green shoots of recovery with sales more than tripling compared to April 2020 (+199.5%).
Month-on-month
With April sales at unprecedented levels, May’s partial recovery resulted in some highly unusual month-on-month growth figures. Total merchant value sales were 171.3% above April 2020, with one less trading day this month. Five categories did better, led by tools (+308%) and landscaping (+278.9%). Kitchens and bathrooms was also up by 210.7%, followed by timber and joinery products at +199.5% and decorating at +177%.
Other periods
Year-to-date sales in the first five months of 2020 were 29.2% down on January to May 2019, with one less trading day this year. Work wear and safety wear (-2.7%) did best, boosted by strong demand for protective equipment.
Index
May’s BMBI index was 78.7. The index for timber and joinery products was marginally ahead at 80.5.
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