Travis Perkins Q3 Revenue Falls 1.6% as UK Housing Slump Drags On
What happened
Travis Perkins, the UK's largest builders' merchant, reported a 1.6% drop in group revenue for Q3 2026, with year-to-date revenue down 1.8%. The trading update, published on 15 October, painted a picture of continued weakness across the construction sector.
The merchanting division — which supplies materials to tradespeople and builders — saw volumes fall 9.0% in Q3. Management said UK construction output and volumes remain subdued, most notably in new-build residential, as macroeconomic uncertainty persists.
The one bright spot was Toolstation UK, which grew like-for-like revenue by 3.6% in Q3 — suggesting smaller tradespeople doing repair and maintenance work are still buying, even as larger new-build projects stall.
Travis Perkins' share price fell nearly 3% on the day of the announcement.
What this means for tradespeople
Travis Perkins is a bellwether for the construction industry. When its merchanting volumes drop 9%, it means fewer materials are being bought across the board — and that translates directly to less work, particularly in new-build housing.
For self-employed tradespeople, the message is familiar: new-build work has dried up, and competition for repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) jobs is fierce. If you're an electrician or plumber who relied on new housing developments, those projects are still not coming through at the pace the industry needs.
The Toolstation growth tells the other side of the story — smaller jobs are still happening. Homeowners are still fixing boilers, rewiring kitchens, and updating bathrooms. The work is there, but it's the kind of work where customers search Google for a local tradesperson rather than going through a developer.
What to do about it
When there's less work to go around, the tradespeople who win are the ones customers find first and trust most:
- Your Google reviews are your competitive edge. In a tight market, the tradesperson with 85 five-star reviews wins over the one with 12. Consistent review collection is what separates you.
- Focus on RMI work. The data confirms that repair and maintenance is where the demand is. Make sure your Google Business Profile lists the services homeowners are searching for — boiler repairs, bathroom fitting, rewiring, not just "general building."
- Keep your pipeline full. Don't wait for the phone to ring. A strong online presence — reviews, a complete Business Profile, and word of mouth — keeps enquiries coming even when the broader market slows.
Source: Directors Talk Interviews / Travis Perkins Q3 Update