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September 22, 2025BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, JULY 2025 Monthly (July 2025 vs June 2025, seasonally adjusted)
Investment in Nova Scotia building construction declined 4.7% in July 2025 to $586.1 million. Halifax monthly building construction was down 1.5% to $317.0 million while outside of Halifax building construction was down 8.2% to $269.1 million. Nationally, investment in building construction rose 0.4% with gains in four provinces. Québec reported the largest gain in building construction investment, while Saskatchewan had the steepest decline, followed by Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia's July 2025 residential construction investment fell 5.3% to $463.8 million. Halifax residential construction was declined 0.9% to $251.9 million. Outside of Halifax residential construction was down 10.0% to $211.9 million. National residential construction increased by 0.4%, with gains in four provinces. Québec had the largest gain while Saskatchewan reported the steepest decline, followed by Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia's non-residential building construction declined 2.3% to $122.3 million. In Halifax, non-residential construction was down 3.6% to $65.1 million. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was down 0.8% to $57.2 million. National non-residential building construction was up 0.4% in July 2025 with increases in five provinces, led by Alberta. Prince Edward Island reported the largest decline, followed by Nova Scotia.
Year-to-date (January-July 2025 vs January-July 2024)
Compared to January-July 2024, building construction investment was up 12.6% in Nova Scotia. Halifax construction activity was up 15.7% and outside of Halifax construction activity was up 8.8%. National building construction investment was up 8.3%, with gains in eight provinces led by Prince Edward Island. British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador reported declines.
Residential construction investment was up 10.6% in Nova Scotia compared to January-July 2024. Halifax's residential construction was up 16.1% and outside of Halifax residential construction was up 4.4%. National residential construction was up 10.5% with gains in seven provinces. Prince Edward Island reported the fastest gain, while Newfoundland and Labrador experienced the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's non-residential construction was up 20.9% compared to January-July 2024. Halifax's non-residential construction rose 14.2% while outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was up 30.3%. National non-residential construction investment increased 3.6% compared to January-July 2024. Eight provinces reported gains, led by Prince Edward Island. Québec reported the steepest decline.
Nova Scotia's total building construction investment increased from $3,575 million in January-July 2024 to $4,025 million in January-July 2025. Residential investment as well as non-residential investment were up across the province.
Nova Scotia residential building construction investment growth was driven by an increase in multiple dwelling building construction across the province, more than offsetting a slight decline in single dwelling building construction in Halifax.
Non-residential building construction investment was up in all categories. The largest increases were in institutional and government building construction investment.
All categories of building construction investment increased in Halifax with the exception of single dwelling units, with the fastest increases in multiple dwelling units, industrial, and institutional/government investment. Outside of Halifax, building construction investment rose in all categories, with the fastest growth in institutional/government investment.
Trends
Building construction has trended up over recent years, particularly from rising residential investment. Residential investment (and therefore total investment) exhibits peaks and troughs around a rising trend. Non-residential investment has been on a more gradual increasing trend.
In Halifax, residential construction investment had trended up for multi-unit dwellings since late 2024. However, single unit dwelling investments have peaked. Outside the city, investment in single dwelling unit construction is typically higher than for multi-unit structures. In Halifax, multiple dwelling unit buildings are a larger share of investment than single dwelling units.
Non-residential building construction has lower values than residential construction.
Halifax commercial and institutional/government building construction have plateaued and declined in recent months, while industrial projects continue to grow. Outside the city, non-residential investment levels continue to grow on rising institutional/government and commercial building investments.
Statistics Canada. Table 34-10-0293-01 Investment in Building Construction
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