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

Sales continued to slow in Q4. Pre-Covid we would expect a lull in sales in December and January when the weather is typically unforgiving for landscaping projects, however we’ve lost… Read more

The introduction of the UK’s own UKCA mark has continued to be a vexed issue for fasteners and fixings. Along with other building products, they fall under the Construction Products… Read more

At the risk of being a stereotypical Brit, I want to talk about the weather. What can the mercury tell us about demand for mineral wool insulation? As I write,… Read more

The fourth quarter of 2022 continued to decline in volumes. Last year was certainly a game of two halves with the second half average around 20% lower than the first…. Read more

As 2022 drew to a close and we reflected on the year that was, we were reminded of the uncertainty our sector faced. After Brexit, then Covid, we could be… Read more

Quarter 4 recorded dampening demand, with the RMI market suffering more than most as concerns over energy prices, interest rates and inflation continued to dent consumer confidence. These underlying issues… Read more