Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report show total value sales for August 2025 through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were down -2.6% compared to August 2024. Volume sales dropped -9.2% and prices increased +7.3% year-on-year. With one less trading day this year, like-for-like value sales (which take trading day differences into account) were up +2.3%.
Month-on-month, August value sales were -12.8% down compared to July. Volume sales decreased sharply (-15.0%), while prices were up +2.5%. With three less trading days in August, like-for-like value sales were up +0.2%.
Total value sales in the three-month period from June to August 2025 were +2.4% higher than the same period a year ago (June to August 2024). Volume sales were down -2.8% and prices increased +5.3%. There was no difference in trading days.
Plumbing & Heating merchants’ value sales in the 12-month period from September 2024 to August 2025 increased +2.0% compared to the previous 12-month period (September 2023 to August 2024). Volume sales were up +1.8%, and prices inched up +0.2%. With one less trading day in the most recent period, like-for-like value sales were +2.4% higher.
August’s PHMI index was 90.4. With one less trading day compared to the Index base period, the like-for-like value sales index was 93.4.
The latest report is available online.
