Timber and Joinery Products sales rise 1.1% year-on-year

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in October, shows August’s total like-for-like value sales (adjusted to remove the effect of trading days) were up +0.5% compared to August 2025.

Year-on-year like-for-like volume sales were down -5.4%, while prices increased +6.2%.

With no difference in trading days, August’s unadjusted value sales were also +0.5% higher than the same month a year before.

Unadjusted volumes were down -5.4% and prices up by +6.2%. Timber and Joinery Products (+0.7%) made marginal gains, while the largest category, Heavy Building Materials eased -0.8%.

In the three months June to August, like-for-like value sales were -0.9% lower than the same three-month period in 2025. Like-for-like volume sales were down -7.7% and prices increased +7.4%.

With one additional trading day in the most recent three-month period, unadjusted value sales rose +0.7% compared to the same three months in 2025.

Unadjusted volumes decreased -6.3% and prices increased +7.4%. Of the two largest categories, Timber and Joinery Products (+1.0%) increased more than Total Builders Merchants, while Heavy Building Materials was down -1.0%.

In the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026, like-for-like value sales were -1.4% down compared to the previous 12-month period (September 2024 to August 2025). Like-for-like volume sales were down -5.5%, while prices were up +4.3%.

With one extra trading day in the most recent 12-month period, unadjusted value sales were  -1.0% lower year-on-year.

Unadjusted volume sales declined -5.1% and prices increased +4.3%. Timber and Joinery Products was up +1.1% but Heavy Building Materials was the weakest category (-3.3%).

In the year to date (January to August), like-for-like value sales were -1.6% lower compared to the first eight months of 2025.

But like-for-like volume sales were down -7.2% and prices were up +6.0%. With no difference in trading days, unadjusted value sales were also down -1.6%, as volumes fell -7.2% and prices increased +6.0%. By unadjusted value, Timber and Joinery Products (+0.3%) performed better than Total Builders Merchants, but Heavy Building Materials (-3.9%) was again the weakest category.

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