The total value of building permits in Canada rose 15 percent to $7.5 billion in October, following a 12.7 percent decline in September, according to a report Thursday from Statistics Canada. The non-residential sector drove the increase as construction intentions grew 50.3 percent to $3.4 billion in October, compared to a 29.4 percent drop in September.
In the residential sector, the value of permits fell 4.1 percent to $4.1 billion in October, the third monthly decrease in four months.
In the industrial component, the value of permits tripled to $1.1 billion in October, rising above the $1 billion mark for the first time. The increase, which followed a 48.8 percent decline in September, was largely the result of higher construction intentions for manufacturing plants, transportation-related buildings and utilities buildings.
The value of permits in the institutional component rose 69.6 percent to $982 million in October. In the commercial component, the value of permits edged up 0.1 percent to $1.4 billion. The advance came from a variety of buildings, including retail complexes, recreational facilities, and hotels and restaurants in Ontario and Quebec.