2007 figures in the red

The BHB industry association believes that the German DIY and building stores will suffer a like-for-like sales deficit of 5 to 6 per cent for the year 2007. This assessment was made by John W. Herbert, executive director of the BHB, at this year’s press conference held by Koelnmesse in preparation for the International Hardware Show/Practical World 2008 in Cologne. The deficit for the first nine months of this year amounts to 1.6 per cent overall, whereby the good sales figures from the first six months are still having a positive effect on the interim results. John W. Herbert expects industry revenue to improve significantly in 2008.