Sign up: 
Sign up:
Sign up:
BMBI reports total Builders Merchants value sales to builders and contractors in January 2019 were up 5.0% compared with January 2018.
Four categories did better, including the two biggest: Timber & Joinery Products (+6.2%) and Heavy Building Materials (+6.1%). Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+2.8%) and Decorating (+2.7%) were among five categories that grew more slowly and Workwear & Safetywear (-4.9%) was one of three that sold less.
Total sales from November 2018 to January 2019 were 2.3% higher than the same period a year earlier. Timber & Joinery Products (+4.4%) was strongest, with Landscaping (+4.1%) close behind.
The rolling 12 months February 2018 to January 2019 were 3.6% above the same period a year earlier, with one less trading day. Ten of the twelve categories sold more. Timber & Joinery (+6.8%) did best, followed by Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+6.5%). Average sales a day in the period were 4.0% higher.
January’s BMBI index was 107.8, with one additional trading day and was the highest January BMBI index to date. Plumbing, Heating & Electrical was top (130.8). The average sales a day Index for January was 101.6.
Andrew Simpson, National Commercial Director Hanson Cement and BMBI’s Expert for Cement & Aggregates, comments: “Seasonally adjusted demand for construction products finished strongly in Q4 2018. This had a positive effect on the overall performance for 2018, said the Mineral Products Association (MPA) in its latest report.
“The Construction Products Association (CPA) downgraded its latest forecast to 0.3% growth in 2019 because of uncertainty surrounding Brexit. In contrast, however, Hanson has had a positive start to 2019 and most merchants and suppliers we have spoken to have also seen volumes higher than expected. If the industry associations are right, construction is in for challenging times in 2019 with political uncertainty and continuing delays to major Government projects.
“The most recent BMBI debate covered some interesting topics that will impact the merchant sector. One that the industry can influence is ‘changes in buyer behaviour and how we sell’. We’ve seen the impact the internet has had on high street retailers and how consumers have changed their shopping habits. We’ve not yet seen the same dramatic change in buyer behaviour in our sector, and there’s been much debate as to why. There will be many reasons, and we must be careful not to generalise as our sector is very diverse. We will be better served if merchants and suppliers collaborate closely to improve what we already do. Between us we have far more product and industry knowledge than potential online disrupters. We need to use technology to our advantage to improve our processes, data, training, logistics, customer interaction, and overall end user experience. The aim is to have frictionless transactions that meet the expectations of customers throughout the supply chain.”
t: 01453 521 621
e: [email protected]
Security expert Abloy UK is highlighting the urgent need for greater security and access control on highways critical infrastructure across the UK.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Civil Engineering, Doors, Facility Management & Building Services, Hard Landscaping & Walkways, Health & Safety, Landscaping, Posts, Research & Materials Testing, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection
Based near the historic town of Ironbridge in Shropshire, widely regarded as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Steel Window Fittings is a market leader in high quality steel window and door handles, fittings and accessories.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Systems, Doors, Health & Safety, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection, Steel and Structural Frames, Windows
Cistermiser, a leader in water management, has welcomed the ambitious water saving targets for commercial buildings recently set by DEFRA.
Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Drainage, Drainage Services, Drainage, Guttering, Soffits & Fascias, news, Pipes, Pipes & Fittings, Plumbing, Research & Materials Testing, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) has built a solid reputation far beyond the capital for successfully undertaking some of the most challenging fenestration contracts.
Posted in Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Building Systems, Case Studies, Facades, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Steel and Structural Frames, Walls, Windows