Canadian investment in nonresidential building construction totaled C$12.3 billion (US$9.4 billion) in the fourth quarter, down 0.7 percent from the previous quarter, according to Statistics Canada.
This was the seventh decrease in eight quarters. Nationally, the decline reflected lower spending on commercial and industrial building construction.
Overall, non-residential investment fell in six provinces in the fourth quarter, with British Columbia posting the largest decline and Alberta a distant second.
In British Columbia, the decrease was primarily a result of lower spending on commercial buildings. Alberta posted a seventh consecutive quarterly decline, mainly attributable to lower spending on industrial and commercial building construction.
The largest increases were registered in New Brunswick and Manitoba, with both provinces recording a third straight quarterly advance. Increased spending on industrial buildings was the primary reason for the gain in these two provinces in the fourth quarter.
Spending on non-residential building construction was down in 19 of the 34 census metropolitan areas in the fourth quarter. Vancouver and Calgary recorded the largest declines.
Investment fell 7.5 percent in Vancouver due to lower spending on all three components, with commercial buildings accounting for most of the drop. In Calgary, construction spending was down for a fifth consecutive quarter, largely the result of lower investment in commercial projects.
The largest gains occurred in Edmonton and Winnipeg, where spending on non-residential building construction in both CMAs advanced for the third straight quarter. The increase in Edmonton was largely due to spending on commercial buildings, while a fifth straight quarterly increase in investment in industrial buildings was the main contributor to the gain in Winnipeg.
Spending on commercial building construction fell 0.9 percent in the fourth quarter. The decline nationally was primarily attributable to lower spending on office buildings.
Declines were recorded in five provinces, with British Columbia and Alberta posting the largest drops.
Investment in industrial projects was down 2.8 percent from the third quarter. At the national level, the decline was attributable to lower investment in the construction of farm and utilities buildings.
Declines were reported in seven provinces, with Ontario and Alberta contributing the most to the overall decrease in the component.
Investment in institutional building construction rose 0.5 percent from the previous quarter in the fourth quarter. Higher spending on the construction of nursing homes and retirement residences was largely responsible for the advance nationally.
Investment in institutional projects rose in four provinces, with Alberta and Ontario posting the largest gains.
