Plumbing & Heating Merchants value sales in July 2022 were +9.1% higher than in July last year. However, growth came from prices (+10.7%), with volume sales down -1.4%

July’s total plumbing and heating value sales, from over 70% of specialist Plumbing & Heating Merchants throughout Great Britain, were +9.1% higher than in July last year. Volume sales were down by -1.4% with price inflation of +10.7%. There was no difference in trading days this year.

Compared with 3 years ago, total sales in July 2022 were -2.8% lower. With two less trading days this year like-for-like sales a day were +6.4% higher.

Value sales in July were +15.9% higher than June. Volume sales were +12.9% higher with price up +2.7%. With one more trading day this month like-for-like sales were +10.4% higher.

July’s PHMI index was 97.2, with no difference in trading days.

Sales in the three months May to July 2022 were +5.8% higher compared to the three months May to July 2021. Volume sales were -2.9% lower with price up +9.0%. There was no difference in trading days.

Compared with the same months three years ago in pre-pandemic 2019, sales in May to July 2022 were -3.9% down. With two less trading days this year like-for-like sales were -0.8% lower.

Sales in the three months May to July 2022 were -6.8% lower than in the preceding three months, February to April 2022. Volume sales were -4.8% lower and price was also down -2.1%. There was no difference in trading days.

Year-to-date sales, January 2022 to July 2022 were +5.6% higher than January 2021 to July 2021. Price inflation was +9.1%, and volume sales were down -4.1%. With one less trading day this year like-for-like sales were +6.3% higher.

Value sales in the last 12 months were virtually flat at +0.1% compared to the previous twelve months, August 2020 to July 2021. Volume was -7.0% down but price was up +7.6%. There was no difference in trading days.

In the year to date, January 2022 to July 2022, value sales were down -3.4% compared to three years ago – January 2019 to July 2019. With three less trading days in the most recent period like-for-like sales were -1.4% lower.

The Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) is the first to analyse point of sales data collated from specialist plumbing & heating merchants with combined annual sales of £3bn, to chart their performance month-to-month.

The PHMI data is from GfK’s Plumbing & Heating Merchant Panel, which represents over 70% of Britain’s specialist plumbing & heating merchants’ sales. The PHMI is a brand of the Builders Merchants Federation, and reports are produced by MRA Research. There is no overlap or double counting between PHMI and Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) sales data.

To download the latest report visit www.phmi.co.uk.