Canadian investment in new housing construction rose 5.1 percent to C$4.5 billion (US$3.9 billion) in October compared with the same month in 2013.

Alberta recorded the largest year-over-year increase, with investment up 23 percent to C$1.1 billion (US$1 billion), followed by British Columbia, up 10.9 percent to C$745 million (US$640.1 million), and Ontario, up 4.8 percent to C$1.5 billion (US$1.3 billion).

Conversely, Quebec posted the biggest decline, down 8 percent to C$629 million (US$540.4 million).

At the national level, investment was up year-over-year for all building types. Single-family dwellings led the increase, with investment rising 3.5 percent to C$2.4 billion (US$2.1 billion), followed by apartment and apartment-condominium buildings, up 4.5 percent to C$1.4 billion (US$1.2 billion), and row houses, up 15.4 percent to C$433 million (US$372 million).