Strong year-on-year sales continue for timber and joinery

Eight out of 12 categories sold more in October 2021 compared to the same month in 2020, despite one fewer trading day. Timber and joinery products continued to top the list (+28.3%) while landscaping (+9.5%), heavy building materials (+6.5%) and kitchens and bathrooms (+4.7%) grew more slowly.

Compared to October 2019, a pre-pandemic year, total merchant value sales were up 11.3% in October 2021, with two fewer trading days. Four categories sold more over the period, with overall growth driven primarily by the strength of timber and joinery products (+34.7%) and landscaping (+27.6%).

Total value sales in the three months August to October 2021 were up 16.1% on the same period in 2020. Eleven of the 12 categories sold more, with timber and joinery products (+38.9%) especially strong. Compared to the same three months in 2019, sales were 17.9% higher in 2021, with one fewer trading day in August to October 2021.

Compared to September 2021, total merchant sales were down 5.1% in October 2021, with one fewer trading day in October. Only work wear and safety wear (+8.4%), plumbing, heating and electrical (+3.4%) and renewables and water saving (+0.9%) sold more. Timber and joinery products (-6.3%) and seasonal category landscaping (-13.6%) were the weakest month-on-month.

Index

October’s BMBI index was 140.4, helped by another robust performance from timber and joinery products (181.0). All bar one category recorded indices above 100.

For the latest reports, expert comments and round table debates, 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 Research, 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.