BMBI

BUILDERS MERCHANT BUILDING INDEX

BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS’ SALES UP YEAR-ON-YEAR AS INDUSTRY CONTINUES GROWTH TRAJECTORY

The latest figures from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) published in July reveal that year-on-year sales through UK builders’ merchants are on an upward trajectory, as the industry continues to meet sustained high demand for building products, with Timber & Joinery Products and Landscaping continuing to lead the field.

YEAR-ON-YEAR

Total Merchants value sales were up 79.6% in May 2021 compared to May 2020 with no difference in trading days. Comparisons with May 2020 show a turnaround in fortunes for many categories. Tools performed the best (+180%) after being the weakest category in May last year, and six other categories more than doubled year-on-year sales, including Kitchens & Bathrooms (+154.9%), Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+118.1%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+115.1%).

The country was still in full lockdown in May last year, so significant increases are expected. However, total sales were also up compared to May 2019 (+7.9%), with two less trading days. Average sales a day were 19.3% higher over the same period.

LAST THREE MONTHS

Total value sales in March to May 2021 were 110.6% higher than the same three months in 2020, helped by one more trading day this year. Again, Tools (+179.7%) performed strongly, followed by Timber & Joinery Products (+147.3%) and Landscaping (+130.8%). Only four categories failed to at least double their sales this year. Total sales were up 17.5% on the same three months in 2019, with no difference in trading days.

MONTH-ON-MONTH

Month-on-month figures indicate that May sales failed to reach the record-breaking heights seen in March and April (-6.1% on April, with one less trading day). All categories sold less, but some did better than merchants generally including Kitchens & Bathrooms (-1.8%), a positive sign that inside trades are getting back on their feet after being hampered by the winter lockdown.

ROLLING 12 MONTHS

Merchants’ value sales in the 12 months June 2020 to May 2021 were 20.8% higher than in the same 12 months a year earlier, with two more trading days in the most recent period.

INDEX

May’s BMBI index was 141.4, with two less trading days. Nine of the 12 categories exceeded 100, with Landscaping (220.5) and Timber & Joinery Products (173.2) both out-performing merchants overall.

GfK’s Builders Merchant Panel

GfK’s Merchant Panel includes national, multi-regional and regional merchants such as Buildbase, Jewson, Travis Perkins, EH Smith, Gibbs & Dandy, MKM and Bradfords. GfK’s Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data represents more than 80% of the value of the builders’ merchant market. GfK insights can trace product group performance and track relevant features. GfK can also produce robust like-for-like market comparability, tailored to the requirements of an individual business.

The Builders Merchant Building Index

MRA Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) appears every month, in print and online. A full quarterly report is published every three months. The BMBI is a brand of the Builders Merchant Federation. Launched and produced by MRA Research, it uses sales-out data from GfK’s Builders Merchant Panel. BMBI includes a panel of leading industry Experts, who speak exclusively for their markets.

For the full report, including comments from the BMBI’s panel of leading industry Experts, please visit www.bmbi.co.uk.