Having endured three and a half years of Brexit turmoil, the country now faces a far bigger challenge and greater uncertainty. The BMBI February report pre-dated social distancing (which started on 19 March) and the lockdown (which took effect on 24 March), hence merchants’ February trading will not have been much affected by the emerging Coronavirus pandemic.

Year-on-year

Total Builders’ Merchant sales in February were down 1.3% compared with February 2019, with Timber & Joinery products among the weaker categories (-6.9%). Others included Tools (-4.0%) and Heavy Building Materials (-1.9%). Among the seven categories that sold more this year, Workwear & Safetywear showed strong growth (+30.8%) driven by higher demand for protective equipment (including masks, goggles and gloves).

Month-on-month

Compared with January, sales in February increased +2.2% despite having two less trading days. Eight categories sold more, led by Landscaping (+16.5%). Four categories sold less, including Timber & Joinery Products (-2.2%) and Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (-1.5%).

Other periods

Sales in the three months, December 2019 to February 2020, were down by 1.2% compared with the same period a year earlier. Sales for the 12 months March 2019 to February 2020 were down 0.9% on the same period the previous year, with one less trading day.

Index

February’s BMBI index was 107.6. Ten of the twelve categories exceeded 100, led by Workwear & Safetywear (128.0). The index for Timber & Joinery Products was 104.9.