Machine sales carry a message

5 October 2022

The economic situation seems to change evrey day in the wake of the chancellor’s mini-budget last week, but figures over a longer period from the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) show that retail sales of machines in August were 6 per cent above the same month last year. 

This was the strongest performance since February when sales were ahead of last year's levels by a similar amount, states the CEA. It adds that, as a result sales in the first eight months of the year are catching up with last year's levels, being only 2.5 per cent behind 2021 after reaching 24,700 units. 

Telehandlers continue to show the strongest growth at 24 per cent up on 2021 levels, with sales of mini/midi excavators and crawler excavators surprisingly down by between 7 per cent and 8 per cent in the first eight months of the year. 

The CEA believes a significant factor is supply chain constraints associated with the supply of machines from some Asian countries, particularly Japan. 

The sales figures are compiled by the construction equipment statistics exchange run by Systematics International Ltd in partnership with the CEA.

Looking ahead, perhaps mini sales will pick up when more machines become available. However, another factor to consider is the price inflation which is affecting all parts of the economy in these uncertain times. 

Mind you, if machines are hard to buy, that should encourage more contractors to hire – and keep hire rates sensible.