Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Sales figures released in the latest BMF Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) have reported falling sales in the first quarter of 2026, leading to a downward revision of growth forecasts for the coming year.
Year-on-year total value sales in Q1 2026 declined by -3.2% compared with Q1 2025, with no difference in trading days between the two periods. However, volume sales fell noticeably, down by -8.1% with average prices increased by +5.4%.
Value sales in Q1 2026 were somewhat weaker than in Q4 2025. Like-for-like value sales (adjusted to remove the impact of trading days) were -0.6% lower than in the previous quarter. Like-for-like volume sales were down by -3.3%.
There was no change in like-for-like value sales in the latest 12-month period compared to the previous 12 months. However, with one less trading day in the latest period, Total Builders Merchants’ unadjusted value sales for the last 12 months were -0.4% lower than in the previous period. Volume sales fell by -1.4%, but prices increased by +1.0%.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “Early signs of improvement in construction output in February were quickly reversed after the start of the Middle East conflict in March. The expectation now is that the conflict will further intensify pressures, through rising prices and renewed inflation. This will impact household budgets as well as construction costs and continue to suppress demand for domestic repair, maintenance, and improvement work and new housing, two critical areas for builders ‘ and merchants’ sales. It is difficult to envisage a significant upturn in the coming year without government action to speed up planning and provide incentives to unlock the housing market.”
