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) have highlighted the impact of price and volume on overall sales value in the first quarter of 2026.
Total value sales in Q1 2026 were marginally lower than in Q1 2025 at -0.1% as volume sales fell by -4.3%, while prices increased by +4.4%. There was with no difference in trading days between the two periods.
Comparing performance in Q1 2026 with the final quarter of 2025, like-for-like value sales in Q1 2026, adjusted for trading day differences, decreased by -0.5% against the previous quarter, with volume sales being -1.2% lower in the latest quarter.
With two more trading days in Q1 2026, unadjusted value sales for the Total Plumbing & Heating Merchants market were +2.7% higher than Q4 2025 with volume sales +2.0% higher and prices up by +0.7%.
With one less trading day during the latest 12-month period, like-for-like value sales were +1.7% higher compared to the previous 12 months. However, like-for-like volume sales were down by -2.7%, with prices +4.5% higher.
The unadjusted figure for value sales for the latest 12-month period increased by +1.3% over the previous 12 months. Volume sales were down by -3.1%, but prices were +4.5% higher.
