The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in October, shows builders’ merchants’ total value sales in August 2025 were down -5.0% compared to the same month a year before. Year-on-year volume decreased -4.1% while prices were also down -1.0%. With one less trading day in 2025, like-for-like value sales for August (which take trading days into account) were -0.3% lower.
Only one of the twelve categories sold more in terms of value compared to August 2024 – Workwear & Safetywear – which was up +2.7%. The worst performing categories were Ironmongery (-6.4%), Heavy Building Materials (-6.6%) and Decorating (-7.8%), but Timber & Joinery Products (-3.0%) performed better than Total Builders Merchants.
Looking month-on-month, value sales in August were -12.7% lower than in July. Volume sales were down -13.4% and prices increased +0.8%. All categories sold less, but Ironmongery (-14.5%) and Miscellaneous (-15.0%) declined more than the rest. With three less trading days in August, like-for-like value sales were +0.3% higher.
Total value sales in the 12 months from September 2024 – August 2025 were up +0.1% compared to the previous 12-month period (September 2023 – August 2024). Volume sales were up +1.9% but prices decreased -1.8%. Five categories sold more by value, with Services (+3.1%), Tools (+2.9%) and Landscaping (+2.3%) performing best. Timber & Joinery Products, one of the two largest categories, fell -0.6%. Decorating (-2.7%) was the weakest category. With one less trading day in the most recent period, like-for-like value sales increased +0.5%.
Total value sales year-to-date (January to August 2025) were up +0.8% compared to the first eight months of 2024.
Mike Rigby, Managing Director of MRA Research which produces the BMBI report says: “August was an extra quiet month for Britain’s builders’ merchants and their builder and trade customers, with volumes down year-on-year and month-on-month. How much of the drop can be blamed on the weather and how much on hesitancy among consumers and businesses as the economic landscape looks uncertain is anyone’s guess. But 2025 has pushed the famous summer of 1976 out of the UK top five hottest summers on record. An August heatwave brought temperatures of 33.4C in parts of England with 31.6C the highest in Scotland. The weather was also variable and varied by region with hosepipe bans across large parts of England, while Storm Floris brought gusts of over 80mph to parts of the UK and widespread disruption in Scotland. Not ideal for external work!
“But confidence in the economy and in the Government’s handling of it is undoubtedly playing a part, with almost daily references in the news to the Chancellor’s delayed Autumn budget and the bad news it may bring. The Institute of Directors announced in October that business confidence was at a record low according to its Economic Confidence Index, while consumer confidence dropped two points to -19 in September according to the long-running GfK Consumer Confidence Index. With grocery inflation rising to +5.2% in October, and official UK inflation data expected to follow, there is no let-up in the squeeze on already stretched budgets.
“That said, there is good news for merchants, in the chancellor’s pre-budget announcement with Rachel Reeves expected to unveil a new raft of planning changes to make it easier for developers to press ahead with housebuilding and infrastructure projects. This could be the shot in the arm the construction industry needs to get building again, but the government may need to do more to revive consumer and business confidence.”
Set up and run by MRA Research, the BMBI – a brand of the Builders Merchants Federation – is a monthly index of builders’ merchant sales, and the most reliable, up-to-date measure of Repair, Maintenance, and Improvement (RMI) activity in the UK. The index is based on actual sales from GfK’s Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data, which captures value sales out to builders from generalist builders’ merchants, accounting for 88% of total sales from builders’ merchants throughout Great Britain. An in-depth review, which includes commentary by sector experts, is provided each quarter.
