Merchant sales stay strong through third lockdown

According to the latest Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) report, builders merchants’ sales remained strong even through the third lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Timber and Joinery sales were up 7.7% on January 2020; Landscaping increased by 3.7%; Workwear and Safetywear sales were up 2.4% on the same time a year ago. However, areas that have not fared so well include indoor trades, with Plumbing, Heating and Electrical as well as Kitchens and Bathrooms categories seeing double-digit falls; but it was Decorating that saw the biggest fall, at 17.2% below last year’s level.

Compared with the previous month, total January 2021 sales were 20.6% higher. Workwear and Safetywear were up 39.1%, with Timber and Joinery Products as well as Heavy Building Materials performing well. Sales in the three months to January 2021 were 4.4% higher than the same period to January 2020, with Timber and Joinery Products as well as Landscaping being the top performing categories.

The full report is available to download at www.bmbi.co.uk