Product category:
Builders Merchants
News Release from: Builders Merchants Federation [BMF] | Subject: Sales of building materials
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 August 2006
Sales of building materials show
positive signs
Sales of building materials show some positive signs according to figures just released by the Builders Merchants Federation.
Sales of building materials at builders' merchants throughout the country fell by 1.1% during the second quarter of 2006, compared to the same period last year according to figures just released by the Builders Merchants Federation However, when compared with Q1 this year, they were up 5.9%
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 16 Jan 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Builders Merchants Federation sales indicators show year-on-year downturn for winter trading, dropping by 4.2% for the three months December 2005 to February 2006.
In the year-on-year three-month comparisons, sales of lightside products (e.g plumbing, heating and ironmongery) fell by 0.5%, sales of heavyside products (e.g bricks, blocks aggregates and cement) rose by 1.2%, while generalist business covering a broad mix of building materials saw sales fall by 4.7%.
Some regions fared better than others.
The East Midlands saw a fall of 4.1%, and Yorkshire a fall of 2.4%.
However two regions reported growth; the North saw an increase in sales of 3.3% and West Midlands by 0.8%.
Commenting on the figures, BMF secretary, Peter Matthews said: "Our latest findings mirror those of other industry indicators, and appear to be more than a seasonal blip".
"We would normally expect a strong upturn during the spring, but although the quarter on quarter figures are positive, sales in most areas of the country remain lower than last year".
"The most likely reason is the continuing low levels of activity both in new housing and the refurbishment and improvement of existing housing stock".
"Both of these are greatly affected by consumer confidence being adversely affected by consumer debt and utility bills at record levels, leading to a slump in discretionary income.".
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