According to the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) Quarter 2 sales showed “the phenomenal resilience of the sector in action”.
During April, in almost full lockdown, merchant sales fell -76.5% while May recovered to -39.9% as restrictions started to ease.
June sales grew 2.2%, helped by two more trading days this year and more relaxed restrictions.
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Total Builders Merchants value sales in Q2 2020 (unadjusted for trading days) fell -38.6%, compared with the same period in 2019.
Landscaping, the strongest performer, was down -13.3% over the same period.
Tools was the weakest (-58.6%), followed by Kitchens & Bathrooms (-57.9%) and Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (-53.1%).
Total value sales dropped by -27.2% in Q2020, compared with the previous quarter.
All categories declined, except for landscaping (=38.7%), with Kitchens & Bathrooms down -55.8%.
However, June improved with total value sales +2.2% up on May.
Landscaping showed the biggest category surge over this period, up “a blistering” +50.3%.
Sales were still negative in most categories, but returning, with Kitchens & Bathrooms Sales recovering to -22.5%.
The quarterly BMBI Index for Total Builders Merchants was 76.4, with Landscaping ahead of all categories at 138.8.
The index for Kitchens & Bathrooms was 48.4.