According to Statistics Canada, investment in non-residential building construction amounted to $12.9 billion in the third quarter, down 0.5 percent from the previous quarter. This was the third consecutive quarterly decline and largely reflected lower spending on the construction of commercial and industrial buildings.
In the commercial component, investment fell 1.3 percent to $7.6 billion in the third quarter. This was the fourth consecutive quarterly decrease and was attributable to lower spending on commercial building construction in six provinces.
Investment in industrial projects was down in six provinces, declining 2.5 percent to $1.6 billion in the third quarter. The decrease was mainly attributable to lower spending on the construction of manufacturing plants and, to a lesser extent, utilities and maintenance buildings.
Investment in institutional projects continued its upward trend for the sixth consecutive quarter, rising 2.2 percent from the previous quarter to $3.7 billion in the third quarter. Nationally, institutional investment rose in seven provinces.