Canada’s investment in building construction edged higher in July, with modest gains in housing and institutional projects balancing out declines.
The total value of construction investment rose 0.4 per cent to $22.7 billion, an increase of $87.4 million from June. The residential and non-residential sectors posted slight increases of 0.4 percent. Compared to a year earlier, the national total increased by 8.8 percent. In constant dollar terms, investment increased 0.1 percent to $21.2 billion and was 5 percent higher than in July 2024.
Residential construction continued to make up the bulk of spending, rising $62.1 million to reach $16 billion in July. Most of that growth came from single-family housing, which climbed 2.5 per cent to $7.1 billion. Ontario and Quebec were the main drivers of this increase, adding $121.5 million and $95.7 million respectively.
The multi-unit segment pulled in the opposite direction, falling 1.2 per cent to $8.9 billion. Quebec partly offset that weakness with a $64.8 million gain.
Non-residential investment rose $25.3 million to $6.8 billion, supported mainly by growth in institutional projects. That component advanced 1.9 per cent to $2.1 billion, led by Alberta’s $40.1 million gain, while Quebec posted a $4.8 million decline.
The industrial category slipped 0.8 per cent to $1.4 billion, with decreases reported in five provinces and three territories. British Columbia accounted for the largest drop at $6.1 million. Commercial investment edged down 0.1 per cent to $3.3 billion, with British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan posting declines, largely offset by a $15.1 million gain in Ontario.