Overall, investment in building construction edged down 0.5% (-$96.6 million) to $21.4 billion in November, following a 1.1% decrease in October. Year over year, investment in building construction grew 2.7% in November.
The monthly decline in investment in building construction in November was driven by the residential sector (-$168.1 million to $14.8 billion) but was partially offset by a gain in the non-residential sector (+$71.5 million to $6.6 billion).
On a constant dollar basis (2017=100), investment in building construction decreased 0.5% compared with the previous month to $12.8 billion in November, but it was up 0.1% year over year.
Chart 1: Investment in building construction, seasonally adjusted
Description - Chart 1
Data table: Investment in building construction, seasonally adjusted
Source: Table 34-10-0286-01.
Ontario's multi-unit component drags down residential sector in November
Investment in residential building construction declined 1.1% (-$168.1 million) to $14.8 billion in November, with decreases occurring in four provinces and three territories, led by Ontario (-$227.8 million). Quebec (+$84.1 million) led the gains recorded in the remaining provinces in November.
Investment in multi-unit dwelling construction was down 4.8% (-$374.4 million) to $7.5 billion in November, largely attributable to Ontario (-$317.9 million). Declines were also recorded in five other provinces and two territories.
Single family home construction investment rose 2.9% (+$206.4 million) to $7.3 billion in November. Monthly increases were observed in eight provinces, with Ontario (+$90.0 million) leading the national gains.
Figure 1: Month-to-month change in residential construction investment (seasonally adjusted)
Description - Figure 1
Figure 1: Month-to-month change in residential construction investment (seasonally adjusted).
This is a map of Canada by province and territory, showing the month-to-month percentage changes for investment in residential construction. Green arrows pointing upward represent an increase, while red arrows pointing downward represent a decrease.
Investment in residential construction for Canada decreased 1.1% in November compared with October 2024. Newfoundland and Labrador was up 0.8%, Prince Edward Island was up 21.5%, Nova Scotia was up 6.5%, New Brunswick was up 6.5%, Quebec was up 2.6%, Ontario was down 3.9%, Manitoba was down 4.8%, Saskatchewan was up 7.7%, Alberta was down 0.6%, British Columbia was down 2.2%, Yukon was down 12.1%, Northwest Territories was down 19.3% and Nunavut was down 17.5%.
Figure 2: Investment in new residential construction, market share and year-over-year change (not seasonally adjusted)
Description - Figure 2
Figure 2: Investment in new residential construction, market share and year-over-year change (not seasonally adjusted).
Single homes: Market share was 34.7% and total investment totalled $2,643.8 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.5%, or $183.5 million.
Semi-detached homes: Market share was 2.9% and total investment totalled $218.0 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 9.8%, or $19.4 million.
Row homes: Market share was 9.6% and total investment totalled $731.4 million, representing a year-over-year decrease of 6.8%, or $53.7 million.
Condos and rental apartments: Market share was 52.8% and total investment totalled $4,024.7 million, representing a year-over-year decrease of 1.1%, or $43.9 million.
Note: Single homes value exclude cottages and mobile homes.
Source: Table 34-10-0286-01.
Chart 2: Investment in residential building construction, seasonally adjusted
Description - Chart 2
Data table: Investment in residential building construction, seasonally adjusted
Source: Table 34-10-0286-01.
Non-residential construction investment reaches record high in November
Investment in non-residential building construction increased 1.1% (+$71.5 million) to a record-high $6.6 billion in November. This marked the fourth consecutive monthly increase.
The industrial component increased 2.2% (+$30.7 million) to $1.4 billion in November.
Commercial construction investment edged up 0.4% (+$12.8 million) to $3.3 billion in November. The gain in Ontario (+$25.0 million) offset decreases in Alberta (-$4.4 million) and British Columbia (-$9.5 million).
In November, institutional construction investment rose 1.5% (+$27.9 million) to $1.9 billion, with six provinces and the three territories recording increases. Quebec (-$1.7 million) led the decline in the remaining provinces.
Figure 3: Month-to-month change in non-residential construction investment (seasonally adjusted)
Description - Figure 3
Figure 3: Month-to-month change in non-residential construction investment (seasonally adjusted).
This is a map of Canada by province and territory, showing the month-to-month percentage changes for investment in non-residential building construction. Green arrows pointing upward represent an increase, while red arrows pointing downward represent a decrease.
Investment in non-residential construction for Canada increased 1.1% in November compared with October 2024. Newfoundland and Labrador was down 2.7%, Prince Edward Island was up 7.7%, Nova Scotia was down 1.5%, New Brunswick was down 1.1%, Quebec was down 0.4%, Ontario was up 2.2%, Manitoba was up 2.4%, Saskatchewan was up 1.6%, Alberta was up 0.6%, British Columbia was up 0.1%, Yukon was down 1.7%, Northwest Territories was down 9.5% and Nunavut was up 40.6%.
Figure 4: Investment in non-residential construction, market share and year-over-year change (seasonally adjusted).
Description - Figure 4
Figure 4: Investment in non-residential construction, market share and year-over-year change (seasonally adjusted).
Industrial: Market share was 21.9% and total investment totalled $1,442.3 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.3%, or $73.1 million.
Commercial: Market share was 49.4% and total investment totalled $3,251.6 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 0.1%, or $4.4 million.
Institutional: Market share was 28.7% and total investment totalled $1,885.8 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 12.6%, or $211.2 million.
Source: Table 34-10-0286-01.
For more information on construction, please visit the Construction statistics portal.
For more information on housing, please visit the Housing statistics portal.
Note to readers
Table 34-10-0175 has been archived on the Statistics Canada website and will no longer be updated but may still be viewed. The successor table is 34-10-0286, and the information from January 2017 onwards that was in table 34-10-0175 is still available in the new table, except for the constant dollar series, which has been rebased to 2017=100. Constant dollar data for January and February 2017 represent an average between the old base year (2012=100) and the new base year (2017=100) and should be used with caution. The 2017 data series will be backcasted and the figures will be revised with the release of our annual revision.
Data are subject to revisions based on late responses, delayed construction start dates for large projects, methodological changes, classification updates, price index updates for constant dollar series, benchmarking and adjustments to ad hoc macroeconomic events. Unadjusted data have been revised back to January 2023. Seasonally adjusted data have been revised back to January 2017.
Data presented in this release are seasonally adjusted with current dollar values unless otherwise stated. Using seasonally adjusted data allows month-to-month and quarter-to-quarter comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations. For information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
Monthly estimates for constant dollars are calculated using quarterly deflators from the Building Construction Price Index (18-10-0276-01). The monthly indexes used for the deflation process were part of a methodology review to increase the quality of the constant dollar and seasonally adjusted series. The indexes previously displayed a step pattern because of less frequent collection.
Detailed data on investment activity by type of building and type of work are now available in the unadjusted current dollar series.
The trade and services subcomponent includes buildings such as retail and wholesale outlets, retail complexes and motor vehicle show rooms. More detailed information can be found on the Integrated Metadatabase at Types of Building Structure - 2.2.1 - Trade and services.
Reference
Data table: 34-10-0286-01.
- Note: some data tables may best be viewed on desktop.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5014.
Previous release: Investment in building construction, October 2024.
Next release: February 13, 2025.
Contact information
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