Q4 Merchant Sales Figures Show Slowdown

The latest figures from the Builders Merchants Federation show that sales of building materials, when adjusted for inflation and differences in trading days, fell by 4.4% during the last three months of 2007, when compared with the same period in 2006. Sales were also down by 10.6% when compared with the preceding three month period, July to September 2007.

The BMF report, which gathers information from builders merchants throughout the country, paints a fairly consistent picture throughout the UK, with most regions reporting a fall in sales. 

Nationally, heavyside materials fared best with sales up by 2.6% during Q4.  Lightside sales fell by 0.4%, Mixed stock merchants saw their sales fall by 7.7%.

Commenting on the figures, BMF Secretary, Peter Matthews said:  'The volatility in sales that has been evident throughout 2007 continued in the final quarter of the year.  Whilst we would expect sales to fall in the run up to the year end, it is disappointing that sales have fallen against the same period in 2006.  The results are not particularly surprising as they mirror the end of year slowdown seen in the housing market.'

Web: http://www.bmf.org.uk