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March 2010
January 2010 saw the coldest start of the year since 1987, so not surprisingly the maintenance spray category was up 26% in value compared to January last year.

- (GfK Lubricants, Panel Market Anti-seize category, value sales, January 2009 vs. January 2010)

February 2010
Despite atrocious gardening weather in January 2010, the garden hand tool market managed to grow 32.2%. The key drivers were sales of spades and shovels, used to help clear the snow, with spades in particular up 229.5% on January 2009.
- GfK Garden Hand Tool's, Panel Market Ex Garden Centre's & Ironmongers, value sales, January 2009 vs.

February 2010
In December 2009 enough anti-freeze was sold to fill one and a half Olympic swimming pools - that's almost a million litres more than December 2008!
- (GfK Cold Weather Products Report, Panelmarket, Volume Sales, December 2009)

January 2010
In the present tough trading conditions, coupled with the recent unfavourable weather, some DIY markets are still experiencing success: sales of flashing, for example, grew 107.3% in December 2009 comared with December 2008.
- (GfK UK Panelmarket excl. GardCent/Ironmongers, Value Sales, December 2009)

January 2010
Not all markets struggled due to the recent snow. Garden hand tool sales have seen a value growth of 6.8% in December 2009 vs 2008, thanks mainly to sales of shovels.


- GfK Garden Hand Tool Report, Panel Market ex Garden Centre & Ironmonger, Value Sales, December 2009

January 2010
With the plunging thermometer during December it's no surprise to see that sales of electric heating products have grown 34.3% in value.
- GfK DIY Total Store Report, Total Market Value Sales, December 2009

January 2010
White emulsion saw more than five million litres sold in November 2009, a 3% increase on November 2008. Though this equates to only one seventh of the amount of mulled wine expected to be consumed by Christmas partygoers in the UK!
- GfK UK Panelmarket excl. GardenCent, Sales Litres, November 2009

December 2009
Despite recent legislation changes, compact fluorescent bulbs showed the slowest growth in November 2009, growing by only 0.1% on November 2008.

- GfK Lightbulbs, Sales Value, November 2009

December 2009
The recent upturn in the housing market is certainly seeing some positive reaction in sales of DIY products. Decorative fillers, a product group classically associated with home improvements, has seen sales increase 1.5% and 2% in volume and value respectively on sales for November 2008.
- GfK UK Panel Market Excluding Ironmongers November 2009 Volume and Value

December 2009
Both paint brushes and decorative equipment sales are up 15.1% and 10.3% respectively, is this a sign that consumers are undertaking more projects around the home?
- GfK RT UK, Paint Brush & Decorative Equipment Markets, Value Sales, October 2008 vs October 2009.

December 2009
"Since the incandescent ban came into effect, GfK have reported growth in 'non-standard' incandescent bulbs, in October 2009 alone, sales of incandescent candle bulbs increased by 27% as consumers continue to stockpile."
- GfK RT UK, Panel Market, Lightbulbs Market, Value Sales, October 2009

November 2009
"The digital switchover is not just affecting our TV sets, it's affecting our bathrooms! In October 2009, digital mixer valve shower sales doubled against the same period 2008 a whopping 56% growth".
- GfK RT UK, Panel Market, Showers Market, Value Sales, October 2009

November 2009
"The specialist paint market, a key barometer for DIY projects, has shown a third consecutive month of volume growth. Over the Aug-Oct period, 2% more specialist paint was sold than in the same period in 2008".
- GfK RT UK, Panel Market, Specialist Paint Market, Volume Sales, August-October 2009

November 2009
2.3m litres of water based treatments were sold in September 2009, enough to fill 16 Olympic swimming pools.
- (GfK RT, Woodcare Market, Volume Sales, Sept09)

November 2009
Energy saving bulbs now account for 20% of market volume, picking up 86% of the incandescent volume declines.
- (GfK RT, Lightbulbs Market, Sales Volume, 52 week MAT to Sept 09)

October 2009
Durable emulsion paint is making a recovery, previously in heavy decline September 09 vs 08 begins to see the market stabilising. During 2009 average monthly volume sales performance on last year was at -25%, though September 09 sees only a -1% on September 08. Maybe the Incentive of retail promotions and increased consumer confidence has encouraged this stabilisation?
- (GfK RT, GfK Panel Market excl GC/IM, Emulsion Paint, Volume Sales, Sept09)

October 2009
The UK paint and varnish removers market has grown over the August/September 2009 period, versus 2008, by 5.3% in volume. This is the first time that this market has shown growth since April 2006. Is this an indication that consumers are gaining confidence and starting to re-invest in their homes?
- (GfK RT, Paint and Varnish Removers Market, Volume Sales, Sept 09)

October 2009
Despite a rocky and difficult start to 2009, power tool accessories have witnessed growth in two consecutive MoM periods (August 09 vs 08 and September 09 vs 08). Although too early to tell, could this mean consumers are beginning to undertake more DIY projects as the housing market stabilizes?
- (GfK RT, GfK Panel Market excl GC/IM, Power Tool Accessories, Value Sales, Aug 08&09, Sept 08&09)

October 2009
Despite the struggling performance in the power tool market, power tool accessories have performed well in August and recorded its first month-on-month growth since March 2009 of 3.9% August 2009 vs. August 2008.
- GfK RT, GfK Panel Market Ex Garden Centres & Ironmongers, Power Tool Accessory Report, August 2009

October 2009
"Lawnmowers have seen the first month-on-month growth since April 2009, with 27% value growth August 2009 vs. August 2008."
- GfK RT, GfK Panel Market Ex Garden Centres & Ironmongers, Lawnmower Report, August 2009, Value Sales