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Non-residential Building Construction Price Index
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The composite price index for non-residential building construction increased 3.3% from the previous quarter to 157.4 (1997=100) in the second quarter. This was the highest quarterly increase measured since the fourth quarter of 1981, when an increase of 4.0% was recorded. The quarterly increase was mostly the result of higher labour and material costs and the persistent strength of the non-residential building construction market. The index was also up 10.6% from the second quarter of 2006.
Western Canada recorded the highest increases from the first quarter of 2007 with Edmonton posting a 4.8% increase, followed by Calgary (+3.9%) and Vancouver (+3.8%). Smaller upward movements were recorded in Eastern Canada with Toronto recording a rise of 2.8%, followed by Halifax and Ottawa–Gatineau, Ontario part (each +2.7%) and Montreal (+2.6%).
Calgary had the largest change (+20.6%) from the second quarter of 2006, followed by Edmonton (+18.9%), Vancouver (+13.7%), Ottawa–Gatineau, Ontario part (+7.8%), Toronto (+7.6%), Halifax (+6.5%) and Montreal (+4.2%).
Note: Non-residential building construction price indexes provide an indication of changes in new construction costs in six census metropolitan areas or CMAs (Halifax, Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver) and the Ontario part of the Ottawa–Gatineau CMA.
Three construction categories (industrial, commercial and institutional buildings) are represented by selected models (a light factory building, an office building, a warehouse, a shopping centre and a school).
Besides the CMA and composite indexes, a further breakdown of the changes in costs is available by trade group (structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical) within the building types.
These price indexes are derived from surveys of general and special trade group contractors. They report data on various categories of costs (material, labour, equipment, taxes, overhead and profit) relevant to the detailed construction specifications included in the surveys.
Available on CANSIM: tables 327-0039 and 327-0040.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 2317 and 2330.
The second quarter 2007 issue of Capital Expenditure Price Statistics (62-007-XWE, free) will be available in October.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-230-2248; 613-951-9606; fax 613-951-1539; prices-prix@statcan.gc.ca), Prices Division.
Table(s).
