Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Figures published by the BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) in the Plumbing and Heating Merchants Index (PHMI) confirm a continued decline in sales volumes in the second quarter of the year.
Comparing the second quarter’s performance with the same period in the previous year shows that total value sales in Q2 2026 were marginally lower at -0.2 % than in Q2 2025. However, the fall in sales volumes was masked by an increase in prices. Volume sales fell by -7.8% year-on-year, while prices rose by +8.2%.
Comparing Q2 2026 with the first quarter of the year, like-for-like value sales in Q1 2026 (adjusted to remove the impact of trading day differences) decreased by -9.2% against the previous quarter, with volume sales -6.7% lower in the latest quarter.
With two fewer trading days in Q2 2026, unadjusted value sales for the Total Plumbing & Heating Merchants market were -12.0% lower than Q1 2026 with volume sales -9.6% lower and prices down by -2.7%.
With no difference in trading days, like-for-like value sales were +0.8% higher in the latest 12-month period to June 2026 compared with the previous 12-month period. However, like-for-like volume sales fell by -4.4%, while prices increased by +5.4%.
