Residential Sector Drives September Gains in Building Construction

Nov 29, 2018

Total investment in building construction increased 0.3% from August to $14.5 billion in September. Gains for the month were driven by growth in investment in the residential sector (+0.4% to $10.0 billion), while investment in non-residential building construction remained unchanged at $4.5 billion. 

Investment in residential building construction

In the residential sector, the increase in investments was led by a gain of 1.0% within the multi-unit category (which includes doubles, row homes, and apartments) to $4.8 billion, while investment in the single-unit category edged down 0.2% to $5.3 billion. 

Investment in single-unit dwellings increased 5.2% compared with September 2017, while investment in multi-unit dwellings rose 14.6% over the same period.

Investment in non-residential building construction

Investment in non-residential building construction was unchanged at $4.5 billion in September, as gains in the commercial (+0.5% to $2.5 billion) and industrial (+2.0% to $0.9 billion) sectors were offset by a 2.7% decline in the institutional sector. 

Investment in non-residential building construction rose 4.1% in the 12 months to September, led by strength in the commercial (+$213 million) and industrial (+$137 million) sectors. In contrast, investment in the institutional and government sectors declined $172 million (-13.5%) compared with September 2017.

Source: Statistics Canada, www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/181123/dq181123c-info-eng.htm.