Tools and joinery product sales grow for merchants in Q1 2018

Tools, timber & joinery products and ironmongery all saw sales growth in Q1 2018, according to the latest quarterly statistics from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI).

The numbers, put together by GfK, the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF) and MRA Marketing, cover 'Generalist Builders Merchants' and revealed that workwear fell slightly on last year.

Tools reached 111.2 in Q1 2018 (106.7 in Q1 2017), while Timber & Joinery Products reached 112.9 in the first quarter of the year (107.1 in Q1 2017). Ironmongery reached 118 in Q1 2018 (115.3 in Q1 2017) while Workwear & Safetywear fell to 108.3 in Q1 2018 (115.3).

Richard Frankcom, Channel Account Manager GfK, commented: "We have all seen the reports of a tough start to the year, but sales value growth from the Generalist Builders Merchants (GBM) would suggest they are the diamonds in the rough. Value growth continued in quarter one up 0.4% in absolute terms and up 2.0% per trading day year on year for the quarter."