Materials Supply - 3rd Quarter 2000 The third quarter survey has found slightly more firms reporting delays in obtaining supplies of materials and products than either of those carried out earlier in 2000, but the number remains relatively modest. Some 20 firms say they have experienced delays of over two weeks but less than two months, and only another four indicate longer delays. This is just four more firms than reported delays in the second quarter survey, but there are more larger firms reporting delays this time so that, if replies are weighted by size of firm, they represent nearly 11% of the total response, compared with 6% last time. In the report on the second quarter survey it was noted that delays in obtaining joinery products, which had been the most commonly reported delays through 1999 and in the first quarter of 2000, were significantly reduced. That reduction is confirmed this time, when it is delays in obtaining bricks that receive the highest number of mentions, albeit only four, all from the South East corner of England. Otherwise there is a wide geographical spread of replies, referring to a wide variety of products. Several are very specific, referring to the availability of individual brands from particular suppliers. Given the buoyancy of workload recorded by the survey, the materials supply situation appears relatively very satisfactory, as far as availability of materials and products are concerned. There are, however, some other concerns indicated in written-in comments, and reported in the next section of this report. First posted: 25 October 2000. Last modified: 25 October 2000.