The UK market for both softwoods and engineered wood products has been subdued in Q1 2026. Merchant and distributor restocking in January generated volumes broadly in line with January 2025…. Read more
History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. So we’re reminded as global events again unsettle UK construction. Our industry is no stranger to disruption. Covid, the Ukraine war and the Evergrande… Read more
January and February were a wash out with prolonged heavy rain slowing site work in an already depressed market. However, in March the rain eased, sunshine appeared and volumes started… Read more
January and February were dominated by relentless rain, making it the wettest start to a year for decades. Construction suffered, with developers and main contractors finding it impossible, or at… Read more
Quarter one was tough for bagged cement and aggregate sales as weak construction and housebuilding activity, above average rainfall and the war in Iran affected supply and demand. The Mineral… Read more
It’s been a tough start to the year for Britain’s builders’ merchants. The war in the Middle East is seriously weakening the economy and interrupting global supply chains, and the… Read more
UK Trade Paint volume held up in Q1 2026, but the underlying picture is mixed, and the outlook for construction suggests there is increasing pressure ahead. The market is essentially… Read more
The first quarter’s market performance has been varied, with sector performance, particularly High-Rise Residential, contracting. So, all sectors continue to have growth challenges, and recent forecasts confirm that. The Middle… Read more
Quarter 1 2026 has been exceptional, but not in ways a drainage system business might hope for! Some regions reported over 50 consecutive days of rain, making normal ground works… Read more
Gas boilers continue to dominate the UK heating market in Q1 2026, with over 80% of UK households using gas for central heating some replacement demand is unavoidable. But sales… 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.
