Price inflation drives bumper Q1 for builders’ merchants
The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) has revealed that total value sales data from Britain’s Builders’ Merchants during Q1 2022 was a bumper quarter. The performance was thanks in part to a record-breaking March, which clocked up the highest ever total sales in the history of the BMBI. However, this was driven once again more by price inflation (+16.0%) than volume growth (+1.5%).
Quarter 1 2022 total value sales were 17.7% higher than Q1 2021, with no difference in trading days. All bar one categories sold more. Renewables & Water Saving (+29.3%) did best, followed by Kitchens & Bathrooms (+26.3%) which also recorded its best-ever quarterly sales. Timber & Joinery Products (+21.4%) and Heavy Building Materials (+17.4% in value) grew more slowly while its volume is up by 5.0%. Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+16.4%) and Miscellaneous (+12.8%) both had their best-ever quarterly sales. Workwear & Safetywear (-0.1%) was flat.
Comparing Q1 2022 with Q1 2019, a pre-pandemic year, total value sales were 24.7% higher, with no difference in trading days. All categories sold more including Landscaping (+51.4%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+40.6%), which did particularly well. Heavy Building Materials (+18.9%), Kitchens & Bathrooms (+17.8%) and Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+11.2%) all grew more slowly.
