The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report show total value sales for May 2024 through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were down -1.9% compared to May 2023. However, year-on-year volumes increased +5.8% while prices decreased -7.3%.
With one extra trading day in May 2024, like-for-like sales (taking trading day differences into account), were -6.6% lower than the same month a year before.
Compared to April, May value sales also slipped -1.9%. Volume sales were flat (-0.2%) and prices decreased by -1.8%. There was no difference in trading days.
Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research, which produces the report said: “The latest ONS data reports monthly construction output growing +1.9% overall in May, helped by a +2.8% increase in new housing work and a +0.8% lift in repair and maintenance work. Reasons to be more cheerful perhaps. But this increase has yet to roll through specialist plumbing and heating merchants.
“Consumer confidence has continued to strengthen, with the GfK Consumer Confidence Index registering a three-point increase to -14 in June, the highest level it’s been since November 2021. Consumers are more optimistic about the economy both now and in the next 12 months, and upbeat about their intentions to make major purchases. Is this the combined effect of the prospect of change and its realisation in a new Labour Government that’s determined to remove the barriers to growth in the economy? Hopefully so, as if Labour can come good on its pledge to build 1.5 million houses over the next five years and unblock the economy, it will be a welcome boost to plumbing and heating merchants, trades, and homeowners.”
To download the latest report visit www.phmi.co.uk.
