John Newcomb, Managing Director BMF, confirms that builders’ merchants’ sales in July, the first full month after the EU Brexit votes, demonstrates growth.
July’s builders’ merchants’ sales, the first full month after the EU Brexit vote, were down year on year, but with two fewer trading days in July this year, sales per day were actually 5.5% higher.
The Builders’ Merchant Building Index (BMBI) which is based on 12 months’ sales from July 2014 June 2015 remained positive at 111.1.
Unadjusted for trading days, total Builders’ Merchant sales were 3.7% down in July compared to the same month in 2015. Heavy Building Materials, the largest BMBI category, was down 3.2% and the second largest, Timber & Joinery Products 5.3% lower. Six other categories did less well than merchants generally, including Plumbing Heating & Electrical (-6.3%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (-9.5%).
Compared with June, sales in July were down 3.9% with one less trading day contributing. Heavy Building Materials slipped 3.7%, Landscaping was 8.8% lower and Renewables & Water Saving, a small volatile category was down 15.6%. Tools (-2.4%), Ironmongery (-1.7%) and Decorating & Renovation (-0.3%) were marginally lower.
Total sales in the three months May to July were 4.1% up on the three months February to April, helped by two additional trading days. Landscaping gained 22.9%, in a seasonal surge, and Heavy Building Materials (+4.5%) were also ahead of total sales. Kitchens & Bathrooms (-5.8%) and Plumbing Heating & Electrical (-10.4%) were weakest.
Economists and commentators have been wrangling over the effects of the Brexit vote. Has the economy tanked? Has it rebounded?
As the ONS said, there is very little anecdotal evidence that the vote to leave the EU affected construction output in July. BMBI confirms that. But comparisons with what it might have been will have to wait for the August BMBI report, although a difference in trading days with August 2015 will still complicate like-for-like comparisons. The fog is clearing, but we probably won’t get a definitive picture until the September Q3 BMBI report.
t: 01453 521 621
e: [email protected]
Wood wool acoustic panelling with a black finish from Troldtekt has been specified throughout 6 Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms in London
Posted in Acoustics, Noise & Vibration Control, Articles, Ceilings, PostsTwo lifts, designed and manufactured in the UK by Stannah now take pride of place as part of London’s Elizabeth Tower restoration project
Posted in Articles, Lifts, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & RenovationAluminium windows, doors and curtain wall solutions manufacturer, Senior Architectural Systems has appointed Mark Rossouw to the newly created role of major projects manager
Posted in Articles, Building Industry News, Doors, Posts, Recruitment, WindowsKingfisher Louvres has made four of its most popular screening and single bank weather louvres available to specify via the NBS Source platform
Posted in Air Conditioning, Articles, Facades, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, Posts, Ventilation