Builders’ merchants’ Q1 sales hit by coronavirus restrictions

Year-on-year

Total value sales in Q1 2020 fell by 6.7% compared with the same period in 2019, with all core categories affected.

Year-on-year sales were down in all three months, falling by 2.6% in January 2020 compared with January 2019, and by 1.3% in February 2020 compared with February 2019. Social distancing and lockdown measures introduced during March led to a record quarterly decline with sales down 15.1% on March 2019. 

Comparing Q1 2020 performance of different product categories with Q1 2019, tools (-12.7%) and timber and joinery products (-11.1%) reported the biggest falls. Plumbing, heating and electrical (-7.4%), heavy building materials (-6.5%), decorating (-5.1%) and kitchens and bathrooms (-4.1%) were also down. Perhaps not surprisingly, the one outstanding performance was in workwear and safetywear up by 24.2%.

Quarter-on-quarter

Total value sales dropped marginally by 0.8% in Q1 2020 compared with Q4 2019. Most product categories reported lower value sales over the period, including timber and joinery products at -2.9%. The exceptions were seasonal category landscaping (+7.6%), workwear and safetywear (+9.5%) and renewables andwater saving (+15.9%). 

Index

The quarterly BMBI index for Total Builders Merchants was 105.6, with workwear and safetywear ahead of all categories at 129.1. The index for timber and joinery products was 104.3.

BMBI experts speak exclusively for their markets, explaining trends, issues and opportunities. For the latest reports, expert comments and round table videos, visit www.bmbi.co.uk. 

The Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) The BMBI is a brand of the BMF. The BMBI report, which is produced and managed by MRA Marketing, uses GfK’s Builders Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data which analyses sales out data from over 80% of generalist builders’ merchants’ sales across Great Britain. The full report is on www.bmbi.co.uk.