No-one is saying we’re about to leap from the winter of recession into the summer of economic upturn, but the timber trade does seem to have more of a spring in its step.
Undoubtedly the most positive perspective of the week comes from West Yorkshire timber merchant CR Taylor.
It’s a brave man who talks about “green shoots of recovery” – politicians won’t touch the phrase for fear that, like earlier varieties, any new shoots they spot will wither the moment they’re acknowledged. But CR Taylor sales director Charles Taylor is made of sterner, more confident stuff.
He says business is up on 2009, builders who haven’t been building since 2007 are back on site and confidence seems to be rising across the construction sector. Mr Taylor stresses that the company is having to work hard to capitalise on the market improvement, but it’s improvement nonetheless.
Lomond Timber Frame is buoyant too. It may not be the biggest business, but it’s won new contracts this year worth £250,000, which, says boss Stuart Rennie, is a “really positive start”.
Hardwood traders commenting for an upcoming TTJ market report said there’s still a dearth of back-to-back business, but also felt activity was on the up.
These more upbeat comments are backed by latest construction sector reports. MTW Research predicts 154,000 housing starts this year and new home sales of £25bn, rising to £29bn next. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s February monthly survey showed the first increase in housebuilding in two years and, while the Federation of Master Builders’ quarterly report says the industry remains in recession and workloads are still falling, the organisation also finds its members more optimistic for the coming quarter, with “sentiment improving dramatically over the last three months”.
Of course, we’re holding our breath over the outcome of the election and the public sector cutbacks that will follow. But there seems to be rising confidence that a recovery in business momentum, albeit slow and painful, can survive, whoever wins.
