Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Figures released in the BMF’s Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) for Q2 2026 reflect a subdued construction market, with year-on-year sales of building materials down in volume but up in price.
This continues the trend from Q1, with activity hampered by Middle East tensions affecting energy and oil prices, restrictive interest rates, and a lack of client and consumer confidence.
Looking at the quarter in more detail, year-on-year total value sales for Q2 2026 fell by -1.2% compared with Q2 2025, with no difference in trading days between the two periods. However, volume sales fell noticeably, down by -6.6%, whereas average prices increased by +5.8%.
Comparing the first two quarters of 2026 however, provides some hope for the future, with quarter-on-quarter growth in 7 of 12 categories. Like-for-like value sales (adjusted to remove the impact of trading day differences) were +17.8% higher than in the previous quarter, and like-for-like volume sales increased by +19.8%.
BMF CEO John Newcomb comments: “Weak demand continues to weigh on building materials sales. Residential remains the biggest concern, while economic uncertainty, affordability pressures and high costs continue to hold back investment. Delivering planned investment in public and social housing, alongside measures to restore confidence in private housing, is essential to turn expectations into actual projects and achieve the growth we all want to see.”
