Merchants’ August sales boosted by Timber & Joinery, and Landscaping
Year on year
Total Builders Merchant value sales were up 3.5% in August compared with August 2017. Two categories did better, Timber & Joinery Products (+9.5%) and Landscaping (+6.9%).
Heavy Building Materials (+1.6%) and Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+1.2%) were among six categories that grew more slowly. Four categories sold less this year.
Month on month
Overall August sales were 3.4% lower than July, including Decorating (-1.9%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (-2.5%). Only Workwear & Safetywear (+2.5%) sold more than in July.
Other periods
The first eight months of 2018 were 4.5% ahead of the same period in 2017, with one additional trading day this year. Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+9.2%) did best, with Timber & Joinery Products (+7.3%) also strong. Landscaping (+3.9%) and Heavy Building Materials (+3.3%) were among nine categories that grew more slowly.
Average sales a day for January to August (which takes the difference in trading days into account) were up 3.9% on the same months last year.
The rolling 12 months September 2017 to August 2018 were 4.8% above the same 12 months a year earlier. Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+8.7%) was strongest, followed by Timber & Joinery Products (+6.9%). All categories sold more.
Index
August’s BMBI index was 124.7, with one additional trading day. Seasonal category Landscaping was top (142.4) followed by Timber & Joinery Products (129.3) and Ironmongery (124.4). Ten of the 12 categories exceeded 100.
The average sales a day index for August was 117.6.
