According to Statistics Canada, Canadian municipalities issued building permits worth $6.1 billion in February, edging down 0.9 percent from the previous month. This was the second consecutive monthly decline.
The value of permits in the non-residential sector fell 5.4 percent to $2.0 billion in February, marking the second decrease in three months. The value of residential building permits rose 1.5 percent to $4.1 billion, following an 8.1 percent decline in January.
Municipalities issued $377 million worth of institutional building permits in February, down 20.5 percent from January and the second straight monthly decline. The decrease came from a variety of buildings, including educational institutions, government buildings, medical facilities and retirement homes.
In the commercial component, the value of permits fell for a second consecutive month, down 6.2 percent to $1.2 billion in February. Nationally, the decline came from lower construction intentions for recreational facilities and, to a lesser degree, warehouses.
The value of permits issued for industrial buildings rose 19.2 percent to $399 million in February, following a 23.2 percent decline the previous month. The increase resulted mostly from higher construction intentions for transportation-related buildings and primary industry facilities in Ontario.
The value of multi-family dwelling permits increased 20.7 percent to $1.8 billion in February, ending a string of four consecutive monthly declines. Construction intentions for single-family dwellings declined 9.6 percent to $2.3 billion, following two consecutive monthly increases.