Expert comments
The second half of 2024 was marked by some unexpected changes in the manufacturing supply chain. As a result, some sizeable shifts in merchant distribution partners for the UK building… Read more
Expert comments
The recent U.S. tariff changes are creating significant ripple effects across global supply chains, placing additional pressures on UK merchants who already contend with managing steady sales and maintaining margins…. Read more
Expert comments
In a mixed market, Keylite came strongly out of the blocks with excellent sales growth over the prior year. January & February were good, but March was over 30% up… Read more
Expert comments
The paint industry was initially optimistic about the prospects for 2025, but it has been an uncertain start to the year, with global turmoil overshadowing what was predicted to be… Read more
Expert comments
Demand in the fastener and fixings sector has continued to follow the general trends across merchants, with continuing soft demand driven by the sluggish levels of construction and RM&I activity…. Read more
Expert comments
It’s been a robust start to the year, with bagged cement products for RMI in high demand, and bulk aggregate sales also starting well. The forecast was gloomy, but Q1… Read more
Expert comments
It’s been a quarter defined by global market volatility and escalating trade disruption. The impact remains difficult to predict. Decisions being taken outside our industry, and beyond these shores, will… Read more
Expert comments
Quarter one delivered no surprises to market performance. Volume levels were in line with forecasts, but there was continued growth in tested systems. It is widely acknowledged that we will… Read more
Expert comments
The first quarter of 2025, while up compared to a very poor Q1 2024, is flat – or steady – compared to the final months of 2024. That’s the positive… Read more
Expert comments
After a flying start to pre-season sales at the end of 2024, the uplift in demand for paving products has continued into Q1, where one of our biggest challenges has… Read more
Launched in 2015, the award winning monthly Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report is the only reliable measure of repair, maintenance & improvement (RMI) activity in the UK. Filling an important gap, it can be widely used in construction, and by economists, Government, national media, commentators and influencers outside the industry.
