Britain’s builders’ merchants sales bounced back strongly in the three months May to July, with value sales surging 38.9% ahead compared with February to April, as reported in July’s Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) report. Landscaping was significantly ahead of all categories at +130.4% over the period. Timber and joinery products followed with +44.3%. Heavy building materials was also up (+35.6%).
Year-on-year
Compared with the same three months of 2019, total sales were down 13.4% overall with timber and joinery products at -12.8%. July 2020 sales, however, were only 1.3% below July 2019 and some categories did better. Landscaping (+25.4%), work wear and safety wear (+21.3%) and timber and joinery products (+1.5%) were up on the same month last year.
Month-on-month
Total value sales was up +8.7% in July compared to June 2020, with all but one category reporting growth. Work wear and safety wear was top (+34.1%), followed by kitchens and bathrooms (+27.3%). Value sales for timber and joinery products increased +10.7% in July compared to the previous month.
Index
The monthly BMBI index for total builders’ merchants was 131.9, with heavy building materials at 125.6. For timber and joinery products the index was ahead of the total market at 140.3.
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