2nd Quarter 2002 - Materials Supply Over the past two years the FMB survey has detected no serious problem with supplies of materials and products. The proportion of respondents reporting delays of more than two weeks but not more than two months has generally been a little over 10% when calculated on the basis of replies weighted by size of firm, whilst that saying they have had to wait more than two months has been insignificant. In the first quarter 2002 survey the proportions dropped to only 6% for delays up to two months and just 1% for longer delays. This time the results from this question are very different, on account of widespread problems with supplies of plaster. For the UK as a whole, and on the basis of replies weighted by size of firm, 35% of respondents report delays of more than two weeks in obtaining supplies of some or all plastering products, but especially finishing plaster. This is despite there being no reports of delays from Scotland or Northern Ireland, and only single-figure percentages in the North East and North West of England. Amongst firms operating principally in Greater London and the South West of England, however, slightly more than half of all respondents report delays, whilst in the South East excluding London the proportion is only a little less than a half. For the Eastern and West Midlands regions of England, and for Wales, the proportions are only a little under 30%, whilst for Yorkshire and The Humber and the East Midlands they are around half that level. The reasons are clear. As reported in the construction press, the country's largest producer, British Gypsum, has experienced production difficulties at its plant at Barrow-on-Soar, where it is installing new equipment to increase capacity, at precisely the time the FMB was running its second quarter survey. Press reports suggest deliveries to builders merchants may not be back to normal until the Autumn. Where other materials and products are concerned, however, the proportions reporting delays remain low, at 8% for delays of two weeks to two months and 4% for longer delays. Facing bricks and joinery products feature most prominently, as they did in the first quarter survey, but in both cases only eight firms report delays, of which three citing bricks and just one pointing to joinery say they have had to wait longer than two months. Further Information For further information, please contact: Federation of Master Builders Gordon Fisher House 14-15 Great James Street Holborn London WC1N 3DP Tel: 020 7242 7583 Fax: 020 7404 0296 First posted: 14 August 2002. Last modified: 16 August 2002.