Torque-Expo

Total Builders’ merchant value sales were up 10% in October, compared with October 2016, assisted by one extra trading day, according to the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI).

Tools sales values rose 12.3% year-on-year, and compared with September 2017, tool sales rose 7.9%.

Timber and joinery products saw their highest monthly sales to date, year-on-year, and sales were up 6.4% compared with September 2017.

Total merchant sales were at their highest since GfK started compiling BMBI sales data in 2014. The report noted, however, the impact of inflation with significant price increases in the past 12 months.

The BMBI is produced by GfK, the Builders Merchants Federation and MRA Marketing.