THE latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales were down 3.3% in August compared to the same month in 2022, with volume falling 10.5% and prices up 8%.
However, value sales in the last three months, June to August, were 3.3% higher than March to May 2023 with volumes up 5.3% and prices down 2.0%.
Eight of the twelve categories sold more this August than in August 2022 with renewables & water saving (37.6%) continuing to dominate. Workwear & safetywear (11.6%), plumbing, heating & electrical (10.8%) and decorating (10.8%) increased more than other categories. Landscaping (-7%) and timber & joinery products (-13.2%) were weakest.
Month-on-month, total merchant sales were down 1.9% in August compared to July. Volume sales were down 3.2% while prices increased 1.4%.
Total merchant sales in the year from September 2022 to August 2023 were 1.1% down on the same period a year ago, with volumes falling 12.8% and prices up by 13.3%.
