Grafton says conditions still 'very challenging'

Builders merchants and DIY group Grafton has said the company "continues to experience very challenging trading conditions" in a trading statement to the Irish Stock Exchange.

Quarterly turnover across the Group was €470m in quarter one, €520m in quarter two and €522m in quarter three. Group turnover for the month of October was €174m.

Group turnover to the end of October was €1.686bn, down €661m or 28% on the €2.347bn in the same period last year.

Like-for-like sales per working day in the group's UK businesses in October were down 4% on a constant currency basis compared to a drop of 18% in the first half. In Ireland, like-for-like sales per working day in October were down 30% compared to a drop of 37% for the six months to the end of June.