Trading Statement

Wolseley PLC
16 July 2001


                                 NEWS RELEASE

                                 16 July 2001



                Update on trading outlook for the year ending

                                 31 July 2001


Wolseley is meeting with stockbrokers' analysts for a pre year end briefing on
the general trading position of the group. Wolseley is also making a
presentation to the UK Shareholders' Association which will include
information about the group's leading market positions, its strong financial
performance and its sustainable organic and acquisitive growth strategy. Brief
details of the recent acquisition of the Westburne Group will also be
provided.


The current trading outlook for the group's principal markets remains broadly
in line with our interim announcement on 13 March 2001. The business
environment in the USA since early January has been more challenging.
Industrial and commercial sectors in the USA have continued to soften but the
US housing market has been resilient and remains strong overall despite some
weaker regional markets. Lumber prices have strengthened since the low point
in January although the average framing lumber price for the year to date is
still well below the previous year's average. In the UK, markets continue to
recover well from the adverse weather conditions in the first quarter of the
calendar year. The market in France has weakened in the last few months and
the outlook in Austria remains difficult.


The reductions in interest rates in the USA and Europe since January will
bring some benefit to the group's interest charge during the current financial
year. Group gearing is expected to be around 55% at the year end. Following
the completion of the acquisition of the Westburne Group, the acquisition
spend in the financial year to date is approximately £395 million. In a full
year, these acquisitions will add approximately £975 million to group
turnover. One-off costs relating to the acquisition of the Westburne Group are
estimated to be approximately £7 million, most of which is expected to be
accounted for in the current financial year.




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                                  ENQUIRIES:


                    Steve Webster - Group Finance Director

                Hugh Teagle - Head of Corporate Communications

                    Wolseley plc - Telephone [phone]

                        Tom Wyatt - Financial Dynamics

                           Telephone [phone]



                               www.wolseley.com