Weather puts the stoppers on DIY retailing

This year March was on average seven per cent colder in Europe than last year. The exceptions were more southerly regions like the south of Spain and Italy, though there was more rain than usual in southern Europe in general, as in Europe as a whole. Figures from Planalytics reveal that this resulted in a decline of purchases for the DIY stores. For example, ten to twenty per cent fewer transactions were carried out in France, the Netherlands and Sweden than in the comparable month last year. At that time DIY stores and garden centres were profiting from the early start of spring in most regions of western Europe. This contrasts with dramatic downswings this year, as demonstrated by further examples: 48 per cent less demand for garden plants in Belgium, 22 per cent less for outdoor furniture in Norway.