BMBI October 2025 report

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report has been published, showing builders’ merchants’ total value sales in October 2025 were up +0.2% compared to the same month a year before. 

Year-on-year volumes were also up +0.8%, but prices were down -0.6%, with no difference in trading days.

Mike Rigby, managing director of MRA Research which produces the BMBI report says: “Looking at October merchant sales in context – concluding just weeks before the delayed Autumn budget – they reflect the apprehension felt by businesses and consumers waiting to find out how the budget would impact their finances.

“The IoD’s Economic Confidence Index, measuring business leader optimism in the UK economy hit a record low of -73 in November before the budget. A snap poll post-budget moderated the index to -72, but there was significant impact on revenue expectations, which dropped to the lowest reading since September 2020, and investment intentions, which registered the second lowest reading since May 2020.

“The latest GfK Consumer Confidence index registered a -2 point drop in November to -19 as all metrics took a hit, particularly the Major Purchase Index, which fell -3 points. The general economic picture was also a cause for concern for consumers, as expectations for the year ahead dropped -2 points to -32, 6 points below November 2024.

“The CPA’s Autumn Forecast was downbeat, with total construction output forecast downgraded from 1.9% growth for 2025 to 1.1%, and the forecast for 2026 being adjusted to 2.8% from 3.7%. The CPA suggests that overall activity has slowed since Spring, and activity in private housing and RMI is subdued with fragile consumer and investor confidence the likely driving factor.”

October’s BMBI report is available to download online.