Housebuilding slowdown has pushed Ibstock’s first-half revenues down 15.1% to £164m, with profit before tax swinging from an £8m profit in 2025 to a £27m loss in 2026, despite clay brick revenues only falling 8% to £118m and concrete revenues £44m, down 11% like-for-like. Brick volumes declined by less than the market average, supported by February price increases and a temporary energy and fuel surcharge introduced in June. With major upgrades to its manufacturing network largely complete, Ibstock plans to keep flexing capacity, inventories and costs, targeting stronger adjusted EBITDA in H2.

Marshalls reported a 0.5% fall in first-half revenues to £317.8m but increased profit before tax by 13.2% to £24.9m, up from £22m in the first half of 2025. The building products manufacturer appears to be holding margins in a weak construction market, implying tighter cost control and more selective pricing across its paving, drainage and hard landscaping ranges. Contractors and specifiers can expect continued supply from a financially stable UK producer, but with limited scope for aggressive discounting on standard civils and streetscape products.

JCB’s Hydromax hydrogen-powered streamliner has reached 368.347mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, breaking the Southern California Timing Association Blown Gas Streamliner (AA/BGS, 500+ cubic inches) class record of 348.342mph set by the Spectre Streamliner in 2010. Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the car uses two production-based JCB hydrogen internal combustion engines now being pushed towards a combined 1,600hp. The team is preparing the vehicle for an FIA-sanctioned outright world land speed record attempt next week, positioning hydrogen ICE as a zero-emission, high-load power option for heavy plant.