Market data

As a benefit of membership the BMF provides a wide range of statistical business reports for members.  

Forecast Report

The BMF are proud to announce the release of the Builders Merchants Industry Forecast. Our Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) uses data analysed by research company, GfK, to report on actual sales category performance. While this has enabled users to see which products and regions are currently growing, we have now gone a stage further to meet our industry’s need for accurate forecasting.    

The BMF model incorporates several lead indicators to signal future events that will impact our markets.  

Using the BMBI data coupled with advanced modelling techniques we have developed a channel specific forecasting model to show what is likely to happen in the next 12 months, making it possible for merchants and suppliers to forecast their customers’ requirements more accurately. 

Going forward, the report will be updated on a quarterly basis and all members receive it free of charge. The report can be downloaded by BMF members once logged in here.

If you would like more information or wish to purchase the latest edition of the report, please contact Nyssa Patel on 024 76 854 994 or nyssa.patel@bmf.org.uk. 

Weekly Economic Bulletin

The BMF Weekly Economic Bulletin highlights the key news stories of the past week relevant to builders' merchants and suppliers. 

Business News

BMF Business News is the BMF's monthly e-news roundup covering all sectors relevant to builders' merchants. The contents of the Business News include; an update into changes and news happening in/with the BMF, a business round-up, economic update as well as construction, transport, policy, housing and health & safety news.

To view the latest edition of Business News, log in here.

Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI)

  

The Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) is a brand of the Builders Merchants Federation. Launched and managed by MRA Marketing, it uses sales-out data from GfK’s General Builders’ Merchants Panel and includes a panel of leading industry Experts who speak for and explain their markets. For more information scroll down and click on the relevant links.

This BMBI uses data from GfK’s ground-breaking Builders Merchants Panel, which analyses data from over 80% of generalist builders’ merchants’ sales throughout Great Britain.

GfK’s Builders Merchants Panel started collecting data in July 2014, and all trend data in the BMBI is indexed on the 12 month period July 2014 to June 2015. The monthly series tracks what is happening in the market month by month and includes an in-depth review every quarter. This trend series gives our industry access to far more accurate and comprehensive data than that available to other construction sectors.

The reports also include views from our panel of leading industry experts to help explain trends, issues and opportunities in their markets.

The BMBI is sent out to all our members every month as a benefit of membership. The report combines data from GfK’s ground-breaking Builders Merchant Panel, which analyses data from over 80% of generalist builders merchants’ sales throughout the UK, and the BMF’s own Sales Indicators based on monthly returns from the majority of merchant members outlets. It gives our industry access to far more comprehensive data than that available to other construction sectors. 

There are two tiers of report available to members, depending on the level of regional sales data members wish to receive from the BMF Sales Indicators-see text below. BMF Sales Indicator report now features alongside the BMBI. All members of the BMF can receive the core BMBI report. However those members who have paid the subscription fee will also receive full insights from the BMF Sales Indicators. The core version still includes a general overview of each month's regional sales findings. Alternatively, merchant members can contribute their monthly sales figures which will be included anonymously into the Sales Indicator report, to receive the full version for no added cost. If you are interested in receiving the Full Report including Sales Indicators or believe they have been sent the wrong version please contact Nyssa Patel by email at nyssa.patel@bmf.org.uk.

The Experts

BMBI Experts are the voice of their markets. They make sense of trends for users of the building index. Experts are market leaders or brands who aspire to be leaders. They are companies that can legitimately speak for their markets. This includes explaining issues and opportunities in their markets, and where appropriate making the case for or against legislation, industry schemes or government policy.

Watch the latest BMBI Expert debate videos here.

For more information about BMBI visit BMBI website

Sales Indicators

The BMF Sales Indicator report is compiled every month from sales turnover information from the majority of merchant members’ outlets. Builders Merchant sales nationally are adjusted for both price inflation and trading days.

BMF and Phocas (a BMF Service Member) have teamed up to introduce a brand new look BMF Sales Indicators, bringing with it greater analytics and functionality. The new service launched in January 2018.

An online member area has been developed within the portal for data submission. With this electronic format there will be greater manipulation of figures available. For example, user defined periods of comparison can be chosen. There will also be greater functionality in displaying the data which will provide more sophisticated analysis.  

The Sales Indicator Report is sent out monthly to members who either pay for the service or regularly contribute. If you would like to an account to contribute your data, and therefore receive the report for free, then please contact Nyssa Patel at nyssa.patel@bmf.org.uk. If your company does not wish to contribute, but would like to receive the Sales Indicators report, a 12-month subscription can be purchased, again contact Nyssa Patel for more details. 

State of Trade Survey

The BMF State of Trade Survey is a quarterly report measuring confidence within the market. Merchant members complete the survey and responses are collated to create the report. The report aims to analyse sales, costs, investment, employment and Brexit. 

If you wish to submit your questionnaire please contact Nyssa Patel at nyssa.patel@bmf.org.uk.

Remuneration survey

We are very grateful for all of the 141 responses that we received for this year's Report.    

The Report shows salaries, wages paid and benefits given to merchant members' staff as at 1 April 2019, for each of the thirteen UK Standard Planning Regions and nationally. 

The survey can be downloaded by BMF members once logged in here.

KPI report

 

The BMF’s Key Performance Indicators Report indicates how the trading performance of builders' merchants fared over the twelve months ending April compared with the three previous years. 

The report highlights 15 ratios which measure the KPI’s of BMF members. The latest KPI report by the BMF is for the year ending April 2019.