In what was predicted to be a slower start to 2023, Q1 volumes were lower than the same period last year, in line with our forecast. More positively, we have… Read more

The first quarter of 2023 is down on the previous year, but it’s less than expected, remembering that the first half of 2022 was still in the post-Covid construction boom…. Read more

With energy prices still at record highs and only weeks to go before Government support for home energy bills is lowered, new figures from a YouGov survey of homeowners, commissioned… Read more

So the first few months of 2023 haven’t been easy for the construction sector. But, as we saw from the expert comments to wrap up 2022 we had been expecting… Read more

Sales volumes were impacted by a slowdown in the new build housing and home improvement markets throughout Q1. UK consumer confidence was at record low levels, and we are seeing… Read more

After a slow start, Q1 started to gather momentum in March as better weather laid the groundwork for a boost in paving sales. A lot has been reported in the… Read more

After a softening in demand across most timber products in the second half of 2022, hopes for a stronger start to 2023 have yet to materialise. From a sharp drop-off… Read more

As I look back on the fourth quarter of 2022 and the preceding nine months, our sector remained resilient in what was a turbulent year. Although December’s output was estimated… Read more

Quarter four saw a continuation of demand softening, which we evidenced in Q3, across the majority of timber products. Construction is slowing, with housebuilding looking particularly vulnerable. Mortgage approvals in… Read more

Quarter four was relatively stable after a turbulent and unsettling quarter three for the UK – politically and economically – but with soaring inflation and the threat of imminent recession,… Read more