Statistics Canada reported Thursday that building permits totaled $5.9 billion in August, a 10.4 percent decline from July and the second consecutive monthly decline.
Both non-residential and residential building permits fell in August, but non-residential permits led the decline, slipping 16.6 percent to $2.3 billion. Residential building permits were down 6 percent to $3.6 billion after three consecutive monthly increases.
Commercial construction building permits were especially weak, totaling $1.3 billion in August, a 20.6 percent drop from the previous month.