Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Total sales through general builders’ merchants rose by 8.8% in April compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the Builders Merchant Building Index. last year.
The month was helped by two extra trading days and an earlier Easter. Overall, six categories did better than the previous year, with Plumbing Heating & Electrical gaining 22.5%, followed by Workwear & Safetywear (+17.7%), Kitchens & Bathrooms (+12.7%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+12.6%). Heavy Building Materials, the largest category, was just off the pace (+8.4%) and only Landscaping sold less (-4.3%).
Average sales per day, which take trading day differences into account, were down 2.1% on April 2017.
Overall, sales in April 2018l were 3.5% higher than in March 2018, despite April having one less trading day. However March was affected by extremely bad weather and included Good Friday this year, both of which held back turnover. Seasonal category, Landscaping (+26.0%) saw the biggest month-on-month increase, followed by Heavy Building Materials (+4.7%).
Average sales a day in April were 8.7% higher than March.
The first four months of 2018 were up 2.5% on the same period in 2017, with one additional trading day this year. Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+11.1%) did best, with Kitchens & Bathrooms (+5.7%) also performing well. Average sales a day for January to April were up 1.3% on the same months last year.
The rolling 12 months May 2017 to April 2018 were 4.7% above the same period a year earlier, with one more trading day. Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+8.7%) was strongest.
April’s BMBI index was 116.1, with one less trading day. Landscaping was top (132.1) followed by Plumbing Heating & Electrical (120.4). Eleven of the 12 categories exceeded 100.
The Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) tracks builders’ merchants’ actual sales to builders and contractors using GfK’s Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data. The BMBI represents over 80% of the value of the builders’ merchants’ market.
