Grafton reports robust start to year

Builders Grafton has said record home-building and DIY levels spelled a robust start to the year for the group.

In a trading update today, Grafton reported that trading for the four months to the end of April 2006 has been in line with group expectations.

The group said the strong growth in the building and DIY sectors boosted sales in its Chadwicks and Heiton Buckley branches.

Grafton also said Davies and Garvey's, which were acquired at the end of 2005, are performing ahead of pre-acquisition expectations.

Meanwhile in the UK, Grafton said its performance "continues to reflect the softer trading conditions being experienced in the (British) construction sector".

It is anticipated that first half sales in the UK will be up although like-for-like sales will be below the levels achieved in the first half of 2005.