Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in September, shows builders’ merchants’ total value sales in July 2025 were virtually flat (+0.1%) compared to July 2024.
Value sales in July were +5.8% higher than in June. Month-on-month, volume sales were up +5.4% and prices were up +0.4%. All categories’ value sales increased with Miscellaneous (+11.3%), Services (+9.0%), Tools (+8.9%), Decorating (+7.4%), Timber & Joinery Products (+6.9%), Heavy Building Materials (+6.3%) and Ironmongery (+6.0%) ahead the most. Landscaping (+0.6%) grew more slowly. With two extra trading days in July, like-for-like value sales (which take trading day differences into account) were -3.4% lower.
Total value sales in the 12 months from August 2024 – July 2025 were flat (0.0%) compared to the previous 12-month period (August 2023 – July 2024). Volume sales increased +1.7% but prices decreased -1.7%. Seven categories sold more by value, with Services (+3.7%), Tools (+3.3%) and Landscaping (+2.6%) doing best. Of the two biggest categories, Heavy Building Materials’ (0.0%) performance was on a par with Total Builders Merchants, while Timber & Joinery Products (-1.1%) fell behind. Renewables & Water Saving (-3.9%) was the weakest category. With one less trading day this year, like-for-like value sales were +0.4% higher.
Total value sales year-to-date (January to July 2025) were up +1.6% compared to the first seven months of 2024.
July’s BMBI report is available to download online.
