Non-residential Building Construction Price Index

The composite price index for non-residential building construction increased by 1.4% in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter. The quarterly increase can be attributed mainly to increases in labour costs and improved market conditions in the non-residential building construction market. This was the first quarterly increase since the third quarter of 2008.

All of the seven census metropolitan areas (CMAs) surveyed reported quarterly increases, with Edmonton (+3.3%) recording the largest gain.

Year-over-year, the composite price index for non-residential building construction was down 0.6%. Of the CMAs surveyed, Vancouver (-4.3%) recorded the largest decrease while Ottawa–Gatineau, Ontario part (+3.1%) and Edmonton (+2.8%) recorded the largest increases.

Note: This release presents data that are not seasonally adjusted and the indexes published are subject to a one quarter revision period after dissemination of a given quarter's data.

Available on CANSIM: tables 327-0043 and 327-0044.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 2317 and 2330.

The second quarter 2010 issue of Capital Expenditure Price Statistics (62-007-X, free) will be available in October.

The non-residential building construction price indexes for third quarter will be released on November 16.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the Client Services (toll-free 1-888-951-4550; 613-951-4550; fax: 613-951-3117; ppd-info-dpp@statcan.gc.ca), Producer Prices Division.