Builders Merchants experience sales growth

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), has recently released figures from GfK's Builders Merchants Panel, showing sales growth of 2.8% for Q3 2015 v 2014, through the UK's general builders' merchants. In Q2 sales also increased, but at the lesser amount of 1.7% year on year.

GfK confirmed that it was the strongest quarter since they began tracking builders' merchants, with total ex-Vat sales of £1.38bn. 

The majority of sectors performed well during this period, with some standing out, including Plumbing, Heating & Electrical, which grew 10.4%, Workwear & Safetywear, which increased 9.6% and Services up 7.4%. Surprisingly, Renewables & Water Management was down -16.7%. 

John Newcomb, BMF md, said: "The Builders Merchants Panel has now returned 15 months of data, enabling us to make year on year quarterly comparisons for the first time. Most sectors have performed strongly in the last quarter. 

"However, Renewables & Water Management stands out from other sectors with a pronounced drop in sales. It appears to have suffered since the Government announced that Zero Carbon Standard for new homes would be discontinued." 

Additional Insight from GfK paints a bright future for Builders' Merchants. Business confidence is falling, but consumer confidence is at its highest since 2000. Homeowners have a greater intention to build and improve their homes, and property transactions have returned to pre-recession levels. On top of this, the Chancellor has announced the biggest housebuilding programme since the 1970s. 

GfK's updated forecast of Builders Merchants Panel sales ex-VAT for 2015 is £5.15bn.

Source: Insight DIY News Team

Read more here.