BMBI Reports

October Merchant sales rally with a +7.3% month-on-month increase

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in December, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in October were up +1.2% compared to the same month last year. Volume sales climbed +2.7% while prices slipped -1.4%. With one additional trading day this year, like-for-like value sales (which take trading day differences into account) were down -3.2%.

Year-on-year, nine of the twelve categories sold more, and six did better than Total Merchants with Tools (+14.3%), Workwear & Safetywear (+10.1%), and Services (+6.0%) leading the field. The two largest categories, Heavy Building Materials (+1.1%) and Timber & Joinery Products (-1.0%), were both weaker than Total Merchants.

Month-on-month, October total value sales were +7.3% higher than September. Volume sales were up +6.5% and prices also edged up +0.7%. All bar one of the twelve categories sold more, with Renewables

Q3 Merchant value sales rose +1.7% quarter-on-quarter but were -2.6% adrift of last year’s sales

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals builders’ merchants’ value sales for Q3 2024 were down -2.6% compared to Q3 2023, with volume sales down -2.8% and prices virtually the same (+0.2%). With one additional trading day this year, like-for-like sales (which take the number of trading days into account) were -4.1% lower.

Merchants’ August sales fall -5.6% year-on-year in wash out summer

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in October, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in August were down -5.6% compared to the same month in 2023. Volume sales dropped -5.7% with little movement in price (+0.2%). With one less trading day this year, like-for-like value sales were down -1.1%.

Builders’ Merchant July sales edge up+0.9% year-on-year

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in September, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in July edged up +0.9% compared to the same month in 2023. There was a small increase in volume sales too (+0.6%) while prices remained flat (+0.3%). But with two more trading days this year, like-for-like value sales were down -7.9%.

Year-on-year, eight of the twelve categories performed better than Total Merchants, with Workwear & Safetywear (+27.7%), Tools (+9.8%) and Decorating (+8.8%) doing the best. The two largest categories – Heavy Building Materials (-0.2%) Timber & Joinery Products (-0.6%) – were virtually flat. Renewables & Water Saving (-28.4%) was the weakest category.

July total value sales were +11.6% higher than June, with volume sales increasing by +11.7% and little movement in price (-0.1%). Eight of the twelve categories outperformed Total Merchants

Q2 Merchant value sales down -5.8% on Q2 2023. June volumes weak. 

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals builders’ merchants’ value sales for Q2 2024 were down -5.8% compared to Q2 2023, with volume sales down -7.2% and prices up +1.5%. With two extra trading days this year, like-for-like sales (which take the number of trading days into account) were -8.8% lower.

Merchants’ April sales up +3.9% but down -11.0% like-for-like

 The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in June, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales were up +3.9% in April compared to the same month a year ago. Volume sales increased +4.7% and prices eased -0.8%. However, with three additional trading days this year, like-for-like value sales were down -11.0%.

Builders’ Merchant Q1 value sales fell -7.2% year-on-year, as volumes slide -8.7%

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals builders’ merchants’ value sales in Q1 2024 were -7.2% down compared to Q1 2023, with volume sales falling -8.7% and prices edging up +1.6%. With one less trading day in Q1 2024, like-for-like sales (which take the number of trading days into account) were -5.7% lower.

Value sales in the first two months were -3.4% down on Jan-Feb 2023.Volume was -5.5% with prices up +2.2%

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in April, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales were down -4.7% in February compared to the same month a year ago. Volume sales dropped -7.5%, while prices increased +3.1%. With an extra trading day this year, like-for-like sales were down -9.2%.

Tentative start to 2024 as January value sales slip -2.1% year on year

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales were down -2.1% in January compared to the same month in 2023, with volume sales falling -3.2% and prices creeping up +1.1%. With one more trading day this year, like-for-like sales were down -6.5%.

November Builders Merchant sales slide -5.7% as volumes drop -12.1% year-on-year

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales were down -5.7% in November 2023 compared to the same month in 2022, with volume sales falling -12.1% and prices increasing +7.2%.