Builders’ merchants in the North-East have outperformed the rest of England with a major rise in sales, according to a report.
Average daily sales across the region in the second quarter of 2018 were 21.7% higher compared to the first three months of the year.
This represents significant levels of demand for building, repair and maintenance work from local businesses and homeowners.
The data is being released by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), through the ‘Builders Merchants Building Index’ which tracks builders’ merchants’ actual sales using GfK data.
It also found that average day sales in June 2018 were 12.2% up on June 2017, and Q2 performance 9.2% higher than Q2 in 2017.
The data found growth in sales performance across the country, with builders’ merchants reporting that the warmer weather played a key role in driving activity.
The Builders Merchants Federation, which represents builders’ merchants and supplies, state that the rising sales figures in the North East show their members are delivering for local communities across the region.
BMF chief executive John Newcomb said: “These sales figures show that the building materials supply chain in the North-East is working well.
“Local builders’ merchants are doing an excellent job of ensuring they’re getting the right materials in the right place.
“Across the country BMF members are reporting robust levels of growth, but it’s great to see successful businesses in the North East leading the way”.
Newcastle-based merchant J T Dove, which have branches across the region, said that they and other local merchants are working hard to supply the building materials required to support key construction projects in the region.
Steve Robinson, managing director of J T Dove and BMF’s North-East chairman, added: “I’m proud of the success of builders’ merchants in the North-East, and it’s great to see us outperforming all other regions in England.
“We have some great businesses in the area, employing brilliant people who are working tirelessly to deliver the materials needed for growth.
“The warm weather of course helped with sales, but I’m confident merchants in the North-East will continue performing well for the rest of the year and into 2019.”