The Builders Merchant Building Index

Scroll right

VALUE EX VAT Index Jul 15 Aug 15 Sep 15 Oct 15 Nov 15 Dec 15 Jan 16 Feb 16 Mar 16 Apr 16 May 16 Jun 16 Jul 16 Aug 16 Sep 16 Oct 16 Nov 16 Dec 16 Jan 17 Feb 17 Mar 17 Apr 17
Total Builders Merchants 100 115.4 100.5 110.3 110.9 101.3 74.0 88.2 101.3 110.0 113.6 111.4 115.7 111.1 113.7 113.8 112.3 113.6 77.1 94.7 100.5 122.8 106.7
Timber & Joinery Products 100 113.8 100.4 110.6 112.1 102.9 74.7 91.3 101.6 107.1 108.9 106.0 112.1 107.8 112.2 113.3 112.8 113.7 76.1 99.1 100.9 121.2 102.9
Heavy Building Materials 100 115.6 100.3 110.8 111.1 100.2 72.2 87.1 100.8 110.1 114.3 111.7 116.2 111.9 114.4 114.6 113.4 114.1 77.0 94.0 100.1 123.0 106.9
Decorating 100 114.8 104.6 111.9 112.7 103.2 78.4 90.9 101.3 106.6 107.5 105.4 108.1 107.8 112.5 109.8 108.3 110.4 76.3 92.8 97.0 115.6 98.8
Tools 100 107.9 94.4 105.1 105.7 103.7 75.9 89.6 99.7 104.1 106.9 99.8 104.0 101.5 102.4 104.6 106.5 111.3 74.8 97.6 101.7 120.7 97.2
Workwear & Safetywear 100 105.9 98.0 120.1 119.4 119.6 75.7 112.6 106.5 105.5 96.3 96.5 107.6 98.5 98.6 101.0 110.9 133.2 72.6 109.5 102.7 114.1 85.1
Ironmongery 100 114.1 101.5 111.7 112.3 108.1 84.3 100.5 108.9 113.0 112.8 110.9 112.8 111.0 115.8 119.8 118.0 119.9 84.6 107.5 109.4 129.2 107.5
Landscaping 100 132.4 108.4 107.0 101.7 83.2 59.0 65.2 88.9 115.7 137.7 144.2 144.7 132.0 129.2 119.9 110.2 97.2 62.4 71.0 87.7 129.5 138.1
Plumbing, Heating & Electrical 100 107.3 93.6 111.4 119.1 118.3 89.6 106.3 114.6 115.2 110.8 101.4 103.3 100.5 103.6 111.7 116.0 132.4 94.0 114.9 116.1 128.7 98.3
Renewables & Water Saving 100 75.7 67.7 104.0 99.6 95.9 76.0 78.1 71.8 72.5 67.1 64.8 75.5 63.7 63.1 72.8 61.2 73.4 42.4 68.1 76.2 90.3 68.2
Kitchens & Bathrooms 100 112.4 97.0 110.3 109.6 108.6 77.5 91.6 109.0 110.5 106.7 98.0 107.6 101.7 105.3 111.4 109.4 121.7 83.8 98.1 110.2 123.6 99.3
Miscellaneous 100 106.3 96.6 107.1 110.1 103.3 83.7 104.0 107.4 112.9 113.1 107.4 113.3 115.3 114.5 115.7 113.6 122.2 92.6 113.2 108.8 124.4 103.4
Services 100 112.7 102.5 108.4 111.4 102.4 83.1 86.2 102.3 114.6 111.3 116.7 116.1 115.5 115.2 111.1 108.3 107.1 81.3 87.8 95.0 115.0 100.6

Source: GfK's Builders Merchants Total Category Report - July 2014 to April 2017

Latest Monthly Overview - April 2017

Total sales value down but fewer trading days in April show sales per day are up

Year on year
This month’s BMBI report reflects the impact of Easter falling in April this year, resulting in three fewer trading days compared with April 2016. So although total sales this April fell sharply year on year, average sales per day showed the largest annual increase in the 22 months we have been publishing the BMBI report.

Absolute sales in April 2017 were 6.3% lower, with all but two categories selling less. Heavy Building Materials, the largest category, was 6.6% lower, with Workwear & Safetywear (-11.6%) and Plumbing Heating & Electrical (-11.5%) weakest.

However, average sales per day in April were 9.3% higher than in April 2016 and all categories were up. Four did better than merchants generally, including Landscaping (+16.8%) and Ironmongery (+11.1%).

Month on month
With five fewer trading days compared with March 2017, absolute sales in April fell 13.1% and only Landscaping (+6.6%) sold more.

April’s average sales per day were 11.1% ahead of March, with Landscaping (+36.2%) strongest. Workwear & Safetywear was weakest (-4.7%) and one of only three categories to sell less per day.

Other periods
The first four months of 2017 were 2.6% ahead of the same period in 2016 (+3.8% adjusted for trading days). The rolling 12 month period, May 2016 to April 2017, was 4.1% ahead of the same period a year earlier, on an identical number of trading days.

Index
April’s Builders Merchant Building Index was 106.7. Six categories had indices over 100, headed by Landscaping (138.1). Adjusted for trading days, April’s index was 123.0 and all but two categories were above 100.

For additional, deeper category insights and benchmarking please contact Ricky Coombes at GfK.

Click here to view or download report

Previous Reports