BMBI Reports

April Builders’ Merchant value sales up +3.0% year-on-year. Volumes up +3.4%

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in June, shows builders’ merchants’ total value sales in April were up +3.0% compared to April 2024. Volumes increased +3.4% year-on-year, while prices eased -0.3%. With one less trading day in the most recent period, like-for-like value sales – which take trading day differences into account - were up +8.2%.

Merchant Q1 sales up +0.9% year-on-year. March sales jump +7.2% year-on-year.

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals builders’ merchants’ value sales for Q1 2025 were up +0.9% compared to Q1 2024. There was a moderate increase in volume sales (+3.9%), while prices came down -2.9%. There was no difference in trading days.

February Builders Merchants' value sales fall -2.7%. Volumes flat (-0.1%) as price drops -2.6%

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in April, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in February were down -2.7% compared to the same month in 2024. Volume sales remain flat (-0.1%) while prices dropped -2.6%. With one less trading day in the most recent period, like-for-like sales were up +2.2%.

Builders Merchant’s value sales down -2.3% in January year-on-year, with prices -2.3% and flat volume sales

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in March, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in January down -2.3% compared to the same month in 2024. Volume sales were flat (+0.0%) and prices slipped -2.3%. There was no difference in trading days.

Q4 Merchant value sales dip -0.5% as 2024 closes down -4.1% on last year

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals builders’ merchants’ value sales for Q4 2024 were down -0.5% compared to Q4 2023, as an increase in volume sales (+2.3%) was countered by a fall in prices (-2.7%). With one additional trading day in Q4 2024, like-for-like value sales (which take the number of trading days into account) were -2.2% lower.

Merchant’s November value sales fall -4.6%, as prices fall -3.4%

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in January, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in November were down -4.6% compared to the same month in 2023. Volume sales slipped -1.3% and prices were also down -3.4%. With one less trading day this year, like-for-like value sales, which take trading day differences into account, were flat (-0.1%).

October Merchant sales rally with a +7.3% month-on-month increase

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in December, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in October were up +1.2% compared to the same month last year. Volume sales climbed +2.7% while prices slipped -1.4%. With one additional trading day this year, like-for-like value sales (which take trading day differences into account) were down -3.2%.

Year-on-year, nine of the twelve categories sold more, and six did better than Total Merchants with Tools (+14.3%), Workwear & Safetywear (+10.1%), and Services (+6.0%) leading the field. The two largest categories, Heavy Building Materials (+1.1%) and Timber & Joinery Products (-1.0%), were both weaker than Total Merchants.

Month-on-month, October total value sales were +7.3% higher than September. Volume sales were up +6.5% and prices also edged up +0.7%. All bar one of the twelve categories sold more, with Renewables

Q3 Merchant value sales rose +1.7% quarter-on-quarter but were -2.6% adrift of last year’s sales

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals builders’ merchants’ value sales for Q3 2024 were down -2.6% compared to Q3 2023, with volume sales down -2.8% and prices virtually the same (+0.2%). With one additional trading day this year, like-for-like sales (which take the number of trading days into account) were -4.1% lower.

Merchants’ August sales fall -5.6% year-on-year in wash out summer

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in October, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in August were down -5.6% compared to the same month in 2023. Volume sales dropped -5.7% with little movement in price (+0.2%). With one less trading day this year, like-for-like value sales were down -1.1%.

Builders’ Merchant July sales edge up+0.9% year-on-year

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in September, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales in July edged up +0.9% compared to the same month in 2023. There was a small increase in volume sales too (+0.6%) while prices remained flat (+0.3%). But with two more trading days this year, like-for-like value sales were down -7.9%.

Year-on-year, eight of the twelve categories performed better than Total Merchants, with Workwear & Safetywear (+27.7%), Tools (+9.8%) and Decorating (+8.8%) doing the best. The two largest categories – Heavy Building Materials (-0.2%) Timber & Joinery Products (-0.6%) – were virtually flat. Renewables & Water Saving (-28.4%) was the weakest category.

July total value sales were +11.6% higher than June, with volume sales increasing by +11.7% and little movement in price (-0.1%). Eight of the twelve categories outperformed Total Merchants