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Thomas StorringDirector – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

October 17, 2022
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, AUGUST 2022

Month-over-month (August 2022 vs August 2022, seasonally adjusted)

Investment in Nova Scotia building construction decreased 6.5% in August 2022 to $481.1 million. Halifax monthly building construction decreased 14.7% to $255.1 million while outside of Halifax building construction increased 4.8% to $226.0 million. Nationally, investment in building construction increased 0.4%. Monthly building construction was up in six provinces with Prince Edward Island and British Columbia posting the largest gains. New Brunswick reported the largest decline (followed by Nova Scotia).

Nova Scotia's August 2022 residential construction investment decreased 6.8% to $416.3 million. Halifax residential construction was down 16.7% to $214.6 million. Outside of Halifax residential construction was up 6.5% to $201.7 million. National residential construction was up 0.5% as six provinces reported higher residential construction investment. The largest increases were in Prince Edward Island and British Columbia. The largest decreases were in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia's non-residential building construction decreased 4.5% to $64.8 million. In Halifax, non-residential construction was down 2.5% to $40.5 million. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was down 7.6% to $24.3 million. National non-residential building construction edged down 0.2% in August 2022. Six provinces reported increases, with the largest increase in Prince Edward Island. The largest decline was reported in Nova Scotia.

Year-to-date (January-August 2022 vs January-August 2021)

Compared to January-August 2021, building construction investment was up 38.7% in Nova Scotia. Halifax construction activity was up 59.0% and outside of Halifax construction activity was up 20.6%. National building construction investment was up 11.6% with nine provinces reporting increases. Nova Scotia reported the largest increase in building construction investment from January-August 2021 to January-August 2022.  The decline was reported in Prince Edward Island. 

Year-to-date residential construction investment was up 39.7% in Nova Scotia. Halifax's year-to-date residential construction was up 55.8%. Outside of Halifax, residential construction was up 25.0% year-to-date. National residential construction was up 10.9%. Nine provinces reported higher residential construction investment over January-August 2021. The largest increase was reported in Nova Scotia while Prince Edward Island reported the only decline. 

New construction of both singles and multiplies along with higher renovation activity have contributed to residential building construction growth over the first eight months of 2022. Growth in each component has been stronger in Halifax than outside Halifax.

 

Nova Scotia's non-residential construction was up 32.8% year-to-date. Halifax's non-residential construction rose 79.8%. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was down 3.8%. National non-residential construction investment increased 13.8% compared to January-August 2021. Six provinces reported increases, with the largest increases in Quebec and Nova Scotia. The largest declines were reported in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The year-to-date increase in Nova Scotia non-residential building construction was mostly due to higher investment in commercial and industrial projects in Halifax. 

Trends

Total Nova Scotia building construction investment was $481.1 million in August 2022. Halifax building construction totaled $255.1 million while outside of Halifax building construction was $226.0 million. Since the fall of 2021, Nova Scotia building construction has been increasing, largely because of rising residential and non-residential construction in Halifax as well as an increase in residential construction outside the city.  However, growth has slowed in recent months. 

Statistics Canada.  Table  34-10-0175-01   Investment in Building Construction



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