Kitchen and bathroom sales, through the builders merchants, have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels and shown growth in the past three months, according to the Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) report
It found kitchen and bathroom sales have been affected by showroom closures national lockdowns and a hesitancy among homeowners and installers about working in the home.
However, kitchen and bathroom sales have been positive month-on-month up 18.7% on March 2020.
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In the latest BMBI report, it stated total merchants value sales in April 2021 were “exceptionally” high compared to April 2020 (+419.2%).
Kitchens & Bathrooms were also “significantly” ahead of April 2020 with sales up 706.6%
However with many merchants closed during April last year, the BMBI also compared sales against April 2019 and total sales were up 22.1%.
Out of 12 product categories, only Kitchens & Bathrooms sold less in April 2021, compared to April 2019 (-1.3%)
Over the last three months – February to April 2021 – total value sales were up 72.4% compared to the same three months in 2020, with one more trading day this year.
Landscaping (+133.1%), Timber & Joinery Products (+99.6%) and Tools (+86.2%) were the top performers but Kitchens & Bathrooms sales (+46.4%) improved too.
Compared to the same three months of 2019, total sales were up +15.6% overall, helped by two more trading days.
Kitchens & Bathrooms sales were -2.8% behind 2019 figures, and the only category to report lower sales.
Total Builders Merchants sales in April were slightly lower month-on-month following a record-breaking March (-0.9%), not helped by three fewer trading days.
Only Landscaping (+15.5%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+0.4%) sold more. Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (-13.1%) was the weakest performing category. Kitchen & Bathroom sales stood at -5.9%.
April’s Total Builders Merchants index was 150.6, the second highest ever recorded, with Kitchens & Bathrooms at 113.5.