Builders Merchants’ February sales up on last year when adjusted for trading days

24 Apr 2017

Builders Merchants’ February sales were 1.1% down on February 2016, but average sales per day were 3.9% up when adjusted for a difference in trading days.

Six product categories saw marginal gains this February, including Tools (+1.8%) and Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+1.1%). Workwear & Safetywear (-3.6%), Decorating (-4.4%) and Services (-7.1%) saw the biggest declines.

Month on previous month

February sales were up 6.1% on January (+11.4% adjusting for trading days). Despite February being wetter than January, Landscaping (+23.5%) was the top performer. Kitchens & Bathrooms (+12.3%) and Heavy Building Materials (+6.5%) also outperformed total merchants. Workwear & Safetywear (-6.2%) was one of only two categories to sell less.

Longer view

The three months December 2016 to February 2017 were 8.0% up on the same three months a year earlier (+4.4% adjusted for trading days). The rolling 12 months period, March 2016 to February 2017, was 4.5% up on the previous 12 months.

Index

February’s Builders Merchant Building Index was 100.5 (104.2 adjusted), up from 94.7 in January.

Tony France, Sales Director, Ibstock and BMBI’s Expert for Bricks (pictured), commented: “Brick industry demand has increased strongly in recent years, but increased capacity, brick manufacturers’ and major developers’ improved planning systems, and improved forecasting are ensuring customers get what they want when they need it, so there’s no requirement to panic-buy!

“It’s vital that customers assist by scheduling accurate levels of volume, rather than over-ordering unnecessarily which can lead to false order-books and extended availabilities. In the specification market, we encourage architects to submit a ‘Letter of Intent’ so the products they want can be reserved for their projects.

“RMI brick demand is not hugely affected by the severe fluctuations we’ve seen historically in new-build housing. Housebuilders and merchants are advising that more homes will be constructed in 2017 compared to 2016, and there’ll be fewer apartments/flats and more detached/semi-detached and terraced houses. That means more RMI opportunities, which in turn feeds the future growth of the brick industry.”

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