>Sales of construction and earthmoving machines fell 9% last year to 34,300 units after a particularly slow final quarter.
Plant sales slumped 29% in final quarter of last year
Figures for the final quarter of last year show sales plunged 29% on the same period last year, the lowest quarterly level since Covid at 6,500 units.
The fall in equipment sales overall in 2023 was very much driven by declining sales of excavators, with mini/midi excavator sales 10% below 2022 levels and crawler excavators 18% below the previous year.
Figures supplied through the Construction Equipment Association and compiled by Systematics International showed wheeled loaders (+10%) ended up as the strongest-selling product last year.
The only two regions of the UK that saw sales ahead of 2022 levels last year were the South East of England (+18%) and Scotland (+5%).
Amongst the other regions, the areas recording the biggest falls compared with 2022 were the North West of England (-23%) and London (-20%).
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