The latest figures from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI), published in July, reveal that total merchant sales climbed +12.4% in May compared to April 2023. Volume sales were up +14.1% while prices decreased slightly (-1.5%). With two extra trading days in May, like-for-like value sales were up +1.1%.
All categories sold more, with landscaping (+18.6%) and heavy building materials (+13.3%) growing the most. Work wear and safety wear (+11.3%), decorating (+10.7%), timber and joinery products (+10.6%) and ironmongery (+10.3%) also hit double digit growth.
Total value sales by builders’ merchants across Great Britain were down by -6% in May compared to May 2022. Volume sales fell -15.1% with price inflation of +10.8%. With one fewer trading day in May 2023, like-forlike sales were -1.3% lower.
Eight of the 12 categories sold more this year than in May 2022. Renewables and water saving (+41.8%) grew the most, followed by decorating (+10.2%) and work wear and safety wear (+5.9%). Heavy building materials (-1.6%), landscaping (-13.4%) and timber and joinery products (-18.2%) were all down year-on-year.
Total value sales in the three months March 2023 to May 2023 were (-7.2%) lower than in March to May 2022, with volume down -18.3% and price inflation of +13.7%. With two fewer trading days this year, like-for-like sales were -4.2% lower. Seven of the 12 categories sold more. Renewables and water saving (+39.8%), work wear and safety wear (+10.0%) and decorating (+8.8%) were the strongest categories.
Timber and joinery products (-18.5%) and landscaping (-20.6%) were weakest.
