Builders’ merchant sales remain strong but signs of ‘slowdown’ appear

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NEW research has revealed that Britain’s builders’ merchants enjoyed a continuing sales boom during Q3 of 2021, but there are signs of a ‘slowdown’.

Total value sales recorded in Q3 were the second highest quarterly Builders’ Merchant Building Index (BMBI) sales ever, just 2.4% behind Q2’s record-breaking figures.

However, volume growth is giving way to value growth, driven by price increases.

Total value sales for the quarter were 17.2% higher than Q3 2020. Eleven out of the 12 product categories sold more over the period, with timber and joinery products (+43.9%) enjoying its highest ever quarterly BMBI sales.

Excluding timber, total merchant sales grew by 9.6%.

Comparing Q3 2021 with Q3 2019, before the pandemic hit, overall value sales were up 18.4%. Six categories sold more, led by timber and joinery products (+48.9%) and landscaping (+30.2%). Like-for-like sales were up by just over 20%.