Sign up: 
Sign up:
Sign up:
The Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) report, published in October, shows builders’ merchants’ sales to builders and contractors continuing to recover in August, but at a slower pace compared to the previous two months.
Total Builders Merchants value sales in August were 3.9% behind August 2019. However, daily sales were 0.9% above last year’s level when adjusted for the difference in trading days. Three categories did better, with Landscaping (+16.3%) the top performer.
Total sales were up 73.8% in June to August compared with the previous three months (March to May), when many merchants had closed branches as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown. Six categories did better over this period, led by Tools (+124.1%).
Total Merchants sales were 14.2% lower in August compared to July, which had three more trading days. All categories sold less.
August’s BMBI index was 113.3. Landscaping (157.2) was strongest, followed by Timber & Joinery Products (120.6).
Steve Durdant-Hollamby, Managing Director Polypipe Civils and BMBI’s Expert for Civils & Green Infrastructure, reflected on the BMBI latest:
“Since the end of June, all civils and green urbanisation sectors have seen an upturn in sales volumes. Residential-related business has seen the strongest return, having been amongst the hardest hit,” he said.
“Other sectors such as land drainage were consistently solid throughout the pandemic and remain so. Planning and specification activity have continued relatively unaffected.
“Within civils, the recent changes to the codes governing adoptable sewers have opened the market. Plastic is now specifically referenced as a material option for all applications. This long-awaited change will see the benefits of lightweight, environmentally compatible pipelines transform the market.
“Looking at Green Urbanisation, the community value of access to green spaces and the size of those spaces are increasingly in the spotlight.
“More people want to experience natural environments more frequently, but this causes frustrations and threatens the health of the ecosystem.
“Re-imagining how we introduce green assets into the urban landscape eases the pressure. Parklets and pop-up spaces are gaining traction with versatile and sustainable green solutions offering all the benefits of green urbanisation in a stand-alone package.
“With green urbanisation extending SuDS into new product areas and deeper into the city landscape, we’re seeing an increasing number of enquiries with this wider perspective.
“Drainage is becoming a solution driven market lead by changing legislation and planning policy focusing on net zero carbon and biodiversity gains.”
BMBI Experts speak exclusively for their markets, explaining trends, issues and opportunities. For the latest reports, Expert comments and Round Table videos, visit www.bmbi.co.uk
t: 01453 521 621
e: [email protected]
Purplex Marketing, the UK’s leading specialist agency in the home improvement, building products and construction industries, has announced a significant £450,000 investment in cutting-edge marketing technology.
Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Information Technology, Innovations & New Products, Research & Materials Testing
Freefoam Building Products Ltd has updated its fascia, soffit and accessory ranges with three new woodgrain foil finishes.
Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Drainage, Guttering, Soffits & Fascias, Fascias, Innovations & New Products, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Roofs, Walls
Ahmarra are one of the UK’s leading Q-Mark fire door manufacturers and installers. Its core services include the design, manufacture and project management of bespoke internal doorsets and glazed screens.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Building Systems, Case Studies, Doors, Facility Management & Building Services, Health & Safety, Interior Design & Construction, Interiors, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection, Timber Buildings and Timber Products, Wooden products
Abloy UK has further strengthened its team with the appointment of Mike Harrison as Business Development Manager for Healthcare.
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, Recruitment, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection