There were other record-breaking monthly figures recorded too, with kitchens and bathrooms (+14.5%) having its highest-ever monthly BMBI turnover. Heavy building materials, the largest category, also performed strongly (+13.5%). Like-for-like sales, which take trading day differences into account, were up 12.1% year-on-year.
Compared to November 2019, a pre-pandemic year, total merchant value sales were up 28% in November 2021, with one more trading day in 2021. Eleven of the 12 categories sold more, with landscaping (+51.4%) and timber and joinery products (+51.3%) still leading the pack.
Total value sales in the three months September to November 2021 were up 14.5% on the same period in 2020. Eleven of the 12 categories sold more, with timber and joinery products (+32.4%) continuing to strongly out-perform the total market. Compared to the same three months in 2019, sales were 20.9% higher.
Month-on-month, total merchant sales were 3.2% up on October 2021, helped by one more trading day in November. Renewables and water saving (+15.9%) performed best, followed by work wear and safety wear (+13.4%) and kitchens and bathrooms (+12.5%). Timber and joinery products recorded a slight increase (+0.6%).
For the latest reports, expert comments and round table debates, visit www.bmbi.co.uk.
