Steel Markets

Canadian Residential Construction Strong in January

March 5, 2014

Canadian building permit value rose 8.5 percent in January to $7.0 billion after falling 4.8 percent in December. Higher building intentions in the residential sector more than offset building declines in the non-residential sector.

Building permits for residential construction increased to 18,366 units in January from 15,650 in December 2013. Single family dwellings permit authorization increased by 11.8 percent from the previous month and 5.3 percent year-over-year. Multiple family dwelling permits jumped 20.9 percent from December and 21.3 percent year-over-year.

In the non-residential sector increase in construction intentions for commercial buildings failed to offset declines in institutional and industrial construction. Hotel and restaurant construction contributed to a higher value for permits in the commercial sector, up 9.7 percent to $1.4 billion in January.

Statistics Canada reports seasonally adjusted data gathered from a monthly Building Permits Survey that covers 2,400 municipalities and 95 percent of the population. The data is considered a leading indicator of activity in the Canadian construction industry.