Sales of building materials fell 9.6% year-on-year during the third quarter, according to the Builders Merchants Federation’s (BMF) quarterly figures.
Merchants dealing in heavyside products saw sales down 13.8%, with lightside sales down 7.6%. Merchants selling mixed materials saw sales drop the least, down 5.9% year-on-year.
Quarter-on-quarter, sales were also down 3.8%.
“In light of the current economic climate, which sees the credit crunch now hitting all parts of the supply chain and with new house building stalled, it unfortunately comes as no surprise to see the trading pattern for merchants depressed throughout the UK,” said BMF secretary Peter Matthews.
“Merchants are seeing sales of materials for repair, maintenance and improvement work continuing, albeit at a declining pace, with tradesmen reporting work up to Christmas. But prospects for the new year are much more uncertain.”
Greater London was the only area exempt from the decline in sales, recording a 1.5% upturn from 2007.
