Total Builders’ Merchants’ value sales in October 2019 were down -4.4% compared with the same period in 2018, on an equal number of trading days. Categories showing a weaker performance year-on-year were Tools (-9.2%), Timber & Joinery (-7.2%), Landscaping (-5.4%) and Heavy Building Materials (-4.9%).

Workwear & Safetywear (+9.0%) was the best performing sector in October 2019 compared with October 2018, with Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+0.3%) showing marginal growth. The combined category Kitchens & Bathrooms increased +4.1%, with kitchens performing more strongly than bathrooms.

The picture was more positive month-on-month with total October 2019 sales up by +6.0% compared with September. However, adjusted for the two-day trading difference, Total Builders’ Merchants’ sales were down by -3.2%. Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+3.7%) was one of the few positive categories, while average sales a day in Kitchens & Bathrooms dropped -1.7%.

Total sales over a rolling 12 month period (November 2018 to October 2019) were up marginally by +0.5% on the same period last year.

October’s BMBI index was 126.0, with Plumbing, Heating & Electrical the highest at 141.5. The Kitchens & Bathrooms index for October was 127.6.