Sign up: 
Sign up:
Sign up:
BMBI data shows builders merchants’ total value sales saw a 7.3% increase in November 2017 when compared with the same month in the year previous.
Seven categories in total did better; with Landscaping (+9.0%), Ironmongery (+8.2%), Tools (+8.0%) and Heavy Building Materials (+7.8%) all enjoying extremely fruitful periods.
Encountering lower growth were Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+7.4%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (+6.2%) although they did enjoy their highest monthly sales since BMBI data started being collected by GfK in July 2014.
The only category to see a dip in sales year on year was Workwear & Safetywear, which went down by 1.6%.
Tony France (above photo), Sales Director, Ibstock and BMBI’s Expert for Bricks commented on how builders merchants’ brick sales stayed strong, with the volume of bricks in merchants’ depots returning to normal and stockists generally reporting healthy demand.
He spoke about how evidence implied a greater numbers of detached, semi-detached houses and bungalows being built, but fewer flats and apartments.
As a result, this means more bricks are needed to build the average unit and, therefore, demand for bricks has been at a particularly high level.
“In the 12 months to the end of September 2017, GB brick manufacturers despatched 176m more bricks than they collectively produced, resulting in depletion of stocks at many factories and, therefore longer ‘availabilities’,” he said.
“These figures exclude volumes of imported bricks, which are continuing to rise to supplement GB supply.
“The imbalance in supply and demand is expected to continue throughout this year and it is important that builders’ merchants work closely with their customers to plan their direct-to-site brick needs as early as possible.”
t: 01453 521 621
e: enquiries@bmbi.co.uk
Indoor air quality and ventilation manufacturing specialist Nuaire is pleased to be exhibiting at the Specifi Mechanical Services events once again in 2025.
Posted in Air Conditioning, Articles, Building Industry Events, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Exhibitions and Conferences, Facility Management & Building Services, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation
A specialist carpentry sub-contractor covering housing sites across a large swathe of the Home Counties has come to value CaberDek from the West Fraser range for a variety of reasons: not least because the high quality panel product doesn’t destroy his operatives’ electric saws!
Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Systems, Case Studies, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Roofs, Timber Buildings and Timber Products, Wooden products
Jane Elvins, Specification and Business Development Manager at GEZE UK, delves into the role of access control systems in enhancing building safety…
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Doors, Facility Management & Building Services, Health & Safety, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection
It’s that time again – FIT Show is back! You could be forgiven for thinking there won’t be much new to see when FIT Show returns to the NEC from 29 April – 1 May. Wrong!
Posted in Articles, Building Industry Events, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Continuing Professional Development (CPD's), Exhibitions and Conferences, Information Technology, Innovations & New Products, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Seminars, Training