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May 12, 2021BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, MARCH 2021 Total residential and non-residential construction
Investment in Nova Scotia building construction declined 5.9% in March 2021 (seasonally adjusted) compared to February 2021. Halifax monthly building construction decreased 17.7% while building construction outside of Halifax increased 10.3% in March 2021.
Nationally, investment in building construction increased 5.9% in March 2021. The monthly increase is mainly due to gains in residential construction. Monthly building construction was up in seven provinces, with New Brunswick (+24.8%) and Quebec (+16.9%) posting the largest gains. The largest declines were in Newfoundland and Labrador (-9.3%) and Nova Scotia (-5.9%).
In the first three months of 2021, building construction investment (seasonally adjusted) was up 19.5% in Nova Scotia over January-March 2020. Halifax construction activity was up 17.6% and outside of Halifax construction activity was up 22.1%. National building construction investment was up 14.8% with all provinces reporting increases except Alberta (-0.1%) over January-March 2020. The largest increases over this period were reported in Saskatchewan (+37.0%) and New Brunswick (+31.2%).
Total Nova Scotia building construction investment was $333.6 million in March 2021. Halifax building construction totaled $169.2 million in March 2021, while there was $164.4 million in building construction outside of Halifax. There has been a notable acceleration in building construction investment towards the end of 2020, particularly residential construction investment in Halifax. In recent months building construction is declining in Halifax while increasing in Outside of Halifax.
Residential construction
In March 2021, residential construction investment (seasonally adjusted) in Nova Scotia declined 7.3% to $282.5 million. Halifax residential construction was down 19.7% to $146.4 million. Outside the city residential construction was up 11.1% to $136.2 million.
National residential construction increased 7.6% month-to-month as seven provinces reported higher residential construction investment. The largest increases were reported in New Brunswick (+32.2%) and Quebec (+22.2%). The largest declines were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador (-12.4%) and Nova Scotia (-7.3%).
In January-March 2021, residential construction investment (seasonally adjusted) was up 25.8% in Nova Scotia over the same period in 2020. Halifax's residential construction was up 23.8%. Outside of Halifax, residential construction was up 28.8%.
National residential construction was up 26.3%. All provinces reported higher residential construction investment for the period. The largest increases were reported in Saskatchewan (+86.4%) and New Brunswick (+65.6%). The smallest increase was in British Columbia (+7.9%).
Higher renovations in Halifax was the largest factor in the increase compared to January-March 2020. In January- March 2021, new construction was up both for singles and multiple dwelling units across the province compared to the first three months of 2020.
Non-residential construction
In March 2021, non-residential building construction was up 2.2% to $51.1 million in Nova Scotia (seasonally adjusted). In Halifax, non-residential construction was down 2.4% to $22.9 million. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was up 6.3% to $28.2 million.
National non-residential building construction was up 1.1% in March 2021. Seven provinces reported increases, with the largest increases in Prince Edward Island (+5.1%) and Nova Scotia (+2.2%). The largest declines were reported in Manitoba (-2.7%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (-2.5%).
In the first three months of 2021, Nova Scotia's non-residential construction (seasonally adjusted) was down 8.1% over the same period in 2020. Halifax's non-residential construction was down 14.8%. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was down 1.4%.
National non-residential construction investment decreased 9.2%, year-to-date. The largest declines were reported in Saskatchewan (-35.0%) and New Brunswick (-24.9%). Non-residential construction increased in Prince Edward Island (+24.9%), Newfoundland and Labrador (+8.0%), and Ontario (+0.1%) over this period.
In January-March 2021 vs January-March 2020, Nova Scotia non-residential building construction decreases were concentrated in Halifax commercial but were partially offset with higher Halifax industrial and institutional/government project spending.
Statistics Canada. Table 34-10-0175-01 Investment in Building Construction
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