The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in October, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in August were down -5.6% compared to the same month in 2023. Volume sales dropped -5.7% with little movement in price (+0.2%). With one fewer trading day this year, like-forlike value sales were down -1.1%.
Compared to August 2023, seven of the 12 categories performed better than total merchants’ year-on-year, with services (+2.5%), work wear and safety wear (+2.3%), and decorating (+0.2%) ahead the most. The two largest categories – heavy building materials (-6.1%) and timber and joinery products (-8.2%) – were weaker than total merchants.
Total sales in the three months June to August 2024 were -6.6% lower than the same three-month period in 2023. Volume sales were down -7.6% and prices up +1.1%. With one fewer trading day this year, like-forlike sales were -5.2% lower. Five of the 12 categories sold more with work wear and safety wear again doing best (+10%). Timber and joinery products were -8.2% down.
August total value sales were -8.1% lower than July. Volume sales fell -9.2% and prices edged up +1.2%. All categories sold less, and just three performed better than total merchants: services (-4.4%), timber and joinery products (-7.4%) and decorating (-7.5%). With two fewer trading days this month, like-for-like value sales were marginally higher (+0.7%).
For the year to date (January to August 2024), timber and joinery products sales were -7.7% down on the previous year, compared with -7.3% for heavy building materials and -5.4% for total merchants.
