The latest total value sales figures from Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) show that sales for Q3 2025 were down -0.1% compared to Q3 2024. Volume sales were up +0.7% year-on-year, while prices were -0.8% lower. There was no difference in trading days.
Eight of the twelve categories sold more by value in Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024 with Renewables & Water Saving (+6.0%) the best performing category. Of the two biggest categories, Timber & Joinery Products (+2.1%) outperformed Total Builders Merchants, while Heavy Building Materials (-1.7%) was behind. Decorating (-3.3%) was weakest.
Quarter-on-quarter
Total value sales for Q3 2025 were down -1.2% compared to Q2 2025. Volume sales fell -1.0%, and prices eased -0.2%. By value, nine categories sold more with Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+3.2%) ahead of the rest. Heavy Building Materials (-1.2%) was on par with Total Merchants, but Timber & Joinery Products (+1.6%) did better. Landscaping (-13.8%) was weakest. With four more trading days in the most recent quarter, Q3 like-for-like value sales were -7.3% lower than Q2.
September sales Year-on-Year
Total value sales for September were up +4.6% year-on-year. Volume sales improved +5.5% and prices were -0.9% lower. Eleven categories sold more in terms of value, led by Renewables & Water Saving (+16.0%), Miscellaneous (+15.6%), Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+8.2%), Services (+7.1%), and both Kitchens & Bathrooms and Landscaping up +6.9%. Timber & Joinery Products was up +6.7%, while Heavy Building Materials (+2.6%) grew more slowly. Workwear & Safetywear (-2.9%) sold less. With one more trading day in September 2025, like-for-like value sales were down -0.1%.
September sales, Month-on-Month
September total value sales were +8.2% higher than August. Volume sales rose +9.3%, while prices fell -0.9%. All bar one category sold more by value with Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+22.1%), Miscellaneous (+17.0%), Workwear & Safetywear (+15.9%), Kitchens & Bathrooms (+13.6%), Renewables & Water Saving (+12.9%), Tools (+11.4%), Ironmongery (+10.7%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+9.2%) up significantly. With two additional trading days in September, like-for-like sales were down -1.6%.
Last 12 months
Total value sales for October 2024 to September 2025 were up +0.8% compared to the same period a year earlier. Volume sales increased +2.7% up but prices were down -1.9%. By value, nine categories sold more with Services (+3.4%), Landscaping (+3.2%) and Renewables & Water Saving (+3.1%) ahead of the rest.
Chris Fisher, Vice President of the EMEA lumber, building material and hardware (LBMH), division at ECI Software Solutions and BMBI Expert for Website & Product Data Management Solutions, comments:
“Q3 2025 witnessed significant momentum in product data standardisation, with September’s announcement that the first suppliers have officially signed up to the BMF’s Data Yard platform – a watershed moment for industry-wide digital transformation.
“The Data Yard initiative represents the industry’s collective response to fragmented product information systems. As Building Materials Digital Services Ltd (BMDS) begins operational deployment, major manufacturers including Knauf, Stanley Black & Decker, and Sherwin Williams are demonstrating commitment to the ‘share once, use everywhere’ principle. This standardisation addresses costly duplication that has historically plagued supply chain efficiency, with merchants previously managing multiple data formats from different suppliers.
“Simultaneously, artificial intelligence is reshaping product content creation across the sector. Recent developments show merchants achieving remarkable productivity gains through AI-powered content generation, with some reporting comprehensive product descriptions created in minutes rather than the traditional twenty-minute manual process.
“This technological advancement is crucial as B2B buyers increasingly expect detailed, searchable product information comparable to consumer e-commerce experiences.
“As more suppliers complete onboarding processes throughout Q4, the true impact on supply chain efficiency and merchant competitiveness will become increasingly apparent, potentially reshaping how product information flows throughout the building materials sector.”
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