After a strong start to the year, growing uncertainty around Brexit has led to a marked slowdown in merchants’ sales in Q2, according to the latest figures from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI).*
As the 31st October deadline looms closer, it’s clear that the uncertainty is continuing to impact negatively on merchants’ sales.
Total builders’ merchants’ sales in August 2019 were down 5.6% compared with the same period in 2018. On a like-for-like basis, with one less trading day, average sales a day were only 1.1% down. The best performing sector in August was kitchens and bathrooms, which increased by 3.0% year-on-year, on an adjusted basis.
The BMBI tracks builders’ merchants’ actual sales to builders and contractors using GfK’s Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data. The BMBI represents over 80% of the value of the builders’ merchants’ market. It is managed by the BMF, MRA Marketing and GfK.
Visit www.bmbi.co.uk/the-index to see the full August 2019 report. You can also read trends, analysis and industry issues from the BMBI Panel of construction industry experts.
* Source: GfK Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data July 2014 – August 2019.
