Builders and Roofing Contractors buck ONS construction trends

In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Hammond said the UK economy has confounded commentators here and abroad with its strength and resilience. So too have Britain’s builders and roofing contractors whose sales were strong in Q3, the first three months following the Brexit vote.

The Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) which tracks builders’ merchants’ sales to builders and contractors using GfK data, reports September sales up 3.2% year on year, and Q3 sales up 3.8% on the same quarter last year.

John Newcomb, Managing Director of the BMF said: “Sales in September continue to be strong, building on an excellent performance over the first nine months of 2016. Sales are up 5.1% on the first nine months of 2015, bucking the construction trends identified by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

“The US presidential election result has sent tremors through financial and currency markets but, as with the Brexit vote, Britain’s builders’ merchants, builders and contractors have continued to supply a robust market.”

Initial ONS figures are estimates based on around 40% of the data and subject to regular revision as data comes in. The latest ONS figures have been revised up to 0.2% for September and 0.1% for Q3 compared to 2015.

John Duffin, Managing Director Keylite Roof Windows, BMBI’s Expert for Roof Windows says: “Q3 is traditionally very active as loft convertors and the RMI sector pushes to get projects watertight before the onset of winter. The roof windows market is strong, and underlying demand for housing is as strong as ever, so we hope consumer confidence and the availability of finance is not undermined by political events.

“Construction industry’s blogs and twitter accounts reveal an urgent search for solutions to the UK’s construction skills shortage. Progressive manufacturers like Keylite are innovating to produce installer friendly products for roofing contractors to use as part of the solution to labour shortages.”

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