Product category:
Builders Merchants
News Release from: Builders Merchants Federation [BMF] | Subject: Sales of building materials slip back
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 January 2006
Sales of building materials slip back
BMF sales indicators shows year-on-year downturn for autumn trading
Sales of building materials at builders merchants throughout the country dropped by 3.7% for the three months September to November 2005 compared with the same period in 2004, according to the latest sales figures from the Builders Merchants Federation The figures also show a decrease in sales of 7.3% against the previous three month period, June to August 2005
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 30 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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In the year-on-year three month comparisons, sales of heavyside products (eg bricks, blocks, aggregates and cement) dropped more than those of lightside products (e.g plumbing, heating and ironmongery).
Heavyside sales were down by 4.3%, with lightside down by 2.5%.
While some areas of the country fared better than others, only the Northern region bucked the downward trend, reporting a 4.1% increase over the same period in 2004.
Neighbouring Yorkshire reported the poorest sales, with an 8.7% year-on-year decrease.
Commenting on the figures, BMF managing director, Jeremy Hawksley, said: "Our latest findings reflect those of other industry indicators, and mirror the slowdown in consumer spending that has cooled housing market activity during the latter part of 2005".
"This has had an adverse effect on new housebuilding as well as the home improvement market - two core areas of the builders merchant business.".
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