Suppliers have warned of price uncertainties regardless of posting sturdy monetary outcomes.
Builders’ service provider Travis Perkins is amongst people who have pointed to an unsure future within the wake of encouraging outcomes from the agency’s first three months of buying and selling in 2022.
The corporate mentioned that the risky provide of supplies had settled by the top of final yr, however added that new challenges such because the struggle in Ukraine and subsequent ripples by way of world provide chains may “problem that relative stability”.
Travis Perkins has 700 retailers throughout its group, which encompasses Toolstation.
Commenting on the most recent outcomes, it mentioned the elevated value of supplies accounted for two-thirds of the expansion in income from its merchanting section, which elevated by 17.9 per cent. Within the equal three-month interval in 2021, the enterprise reported that gross sales have been down 13.6 per cent.
A spokesperson mentioned: “Buyer demand stays sturdy throughout our finish markets with bigger buyer exercise underpinned by the backlog of social and financial infrastructure work and ongoing requirement for brand new housing.
“SME [small and medium-sized enterprise] clients proceed to see wholesome order books, together with a rising curiosity in energy-efficiency tasks.”
Travis Perkins’ upbeat outcomes got here as construction-equipment rent agency HSS additionally posted sturdy full-year outcomes for the yr to 1 January 2022.
Income at HSS grew by 21.3 per cent – up from £250.1m in 2020 to £303.3m in 2021. The agency additionally rebounded into revenue after struggling a £29.6m loss in 2020. The newest revenue earlier than tax stood at £6.1m.
HSS said that the approaching 12 months would see it give attention to enhancing its digital capabilities.
In the meantime, insulation, roofing and business interiors provider SIG Group additionally reported “considerably greater” earnings expectations, posting UK gross sales progress of 23 per cent for the primary quarter throughout each its interiors and exteriors divisions.
The buying and selling replace additionally confirmed that gross sales progress in Eire rose by a whopping 78 per cent. SIG mentioned that underlying working margin was anticipated to succeed in 3 per cent of income.
