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Thomas StorringDirector – Economics and Statistics
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June 13, 2022
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, APRIL 2022

Month-over-month (April 2022 vs March 2022, seasonally adjusted)

Investment in Nova Scotia building construction decreased 1.7% in April 2022 (seasonally adjusted) to $497.5 million. Halifax monthly building construction decreased 3.6% to $249.2 million while outside of Halifax building construction increased 0.3% to $248.4 million. Nationally, investment in building construction increased 2.7%. Monthly building construction was up in eight provinces with Alberta and British Columbia posting the largest gains. Manitoba reported the largest decline.

Nova Scotia's April 2022 residential construction investment in Nova Scotia decreased 1.9% to $430.4 million. Halifax residential construction was down 4.6% to $209.3 million. Outside of Halifax residential construction was up 0.8% to $221.1million. National residential construction increased 3.2% as eight provinces reported higher residential construction investment. The largest increase was reported in Alberta while Manitoba reported the largest decline.

Nova Scotia's non-residential building construction edged down 0.2% to $67.1 million (seasonally adjusted). In Halifax, non-residential construction was up 1.8% to $39.9 million. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was down 2.9% to $27.3 million.  National non-residential building construction was up 1.4% in April. Seven provinces reported increases, with the largest increase in New Brunswick. The largest decline was reported in Prince Edward Island.

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

Compared to January-April 2021, building construction investment was up 40.2% in Nova Scotia. Outside of Halifax construction activity was up 38.8% and Halifax construction activity was up 41.4%. National building construction investment was up 10.6% with seven provinces reporting increases. Nova Scotia reported the largest increases in building construction investment from January-April 2021 to January-April 2022.  The largest declines were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan. 

Year-to-date residential construction investment was up 41.9% in Nova Scotia. Halifax's year-to-date residential construction was up 37.9%. Outside of Halifax, residential construction was up 46.6% year-to-date. National residential construction was up 9.7%. Seven provinces reported higher residential construction investment over January-April 2021. The largest increases were reported in Nova Scotia while Saskatchewan reported the largest decline. 

Higher renovations was the largest factor in the year-to-date increase in residential construction. New construction was also up both for singles and multiple dwelling units across the province.

Nova Scotia's non-residential construction was up 29.8% year-to-date. Halifax's non-residential construction rose 66.3%. Outside of Halifax, non-residential construction was flat (-0.02%). National non-residential construction investment increased 13.3% compared to January-April 2021. Six provinces reported increases, with the largest increases in Quebec and Nova Scotia. The largest declines were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. 

The year-to-date increase in Nova Scotia non-residential building construction was mostly due to higher investment in commercial and industrial investment in Halifax. The increase was partially offset by lower commercial investment outside of Halifax.

Trends

Total Nova Scotia building construction investment was $497.5 million in April 2022. Halifax building construction totaled $249.2 million while outside of Halifax building construction was $248.4 million. Since the fall of 2021, Nova Scotia building construction had been increasing, largely because of rising residential and non-residential construction in Halifax as well as a substantial rise in residential construction outside the city. 

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