Statistics Canada: Investment in Building Construction, July 2025

Overall, the total value of investment in building construction increased 0.4% (+$87.4 million) to $22.7 billion in July. Both the residential and non-residential sectors recorded increases of 0.4%. Year over year, investment in building construction grew 8.8% in July.

On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of investment in building construction edged up 0.1% from the previous month to $21.2 billion in July, and was up 5.0% year over year.

Decline in multi-unit component moderates growth in residential sector

Investment in residential building construction increased $62.1 million to $16.0 billion in July. This rise was driven by the single-family component (+2.5%) and was tempered by the multi-unit component (-1.2%).

In July, single-family home investment increased $173.1 million to $7.1 billion. The growth was primarily attributed to Ontario (+$121.5 million), followed by Quebec (+$95.7 million). Meanwhile, decreases were recorded in four provinces and all territories, led by Nova Scotia (-$35.3 million).

Investment in multi-unit construction decreased $110.9 million to $8.9 billion in July. The decline was driven by Ontario (-$176.3 million) and was partially offset by growth in Quebec (+$64.8 million).

Institutional component leads non-residential sector

In July, the value of investment in non-residential building construction increased $25.3 million to $6.8 billion. Growth in the institutional component (+1.9%) was moderated by declines in the industrial (-0.8%) and the commercial (-0.1%) components.

Investment in the institutional component increased $38.9 million to $2.1 billion in July, led by growth in Alberta (+$40.1 million) and tempered by Quebec (-$4.8 million).

Meanwhile, the industrial component decreased $11.1 million to $1.4 billion in July, with declines recorded in five provinces and three territories, led by British Columbia (-$6.1 million).

Investment in the commercial component declined $2.5 million to $3.3 billion in July. The decline was led by British Columbia (-$14.0 million), followed by Nova Scotia (-$2.8 million) and Saskatchewan (-$2.6 million), and was largely offset by Ontario (+$15.1 million).

For more information on construction, please visit the Construction statistics portal.

For more information on housing, please visit the Housing statistics portal.

Note to readers

This Daily release was created with the assistance of a generative artificial intelligence tool, using data and analysis prepared by Statistics Canada analysts. The final content was verified by subject-matter experts.

Table 34-10-0286 has been archived on the Statistics Canada website and will no longer be updated but may still be viewed. The successor table is 34-10-0293, and the information from January 2017 onwards that was in table 34-10-0286 is still available in the new table, except for the constant dollar series, which has been rebased to 2017=100. Constant dollar data for January and February 2017 represent an average between the old base year (2012=100) and the new base year (2023=100) and should be used with caution. The 2017 data series will be backcasted and the figures will be revised with the release of our annual revision.

Data are subject to revisions based on late responses, delayed construction start dates for large projects, methodological changes, classification updates, price index updates for constant dollar series, benchmarking and adjustments to ad hoc macroeconomic events. Unadjusted data have been revised back to January 2023. Seasonally adjusted data have been revised back to January 2017.

Data presented in this release are seasonally adjusted with current dollar values unless otherwise stated. Using seasonally adjusted data allows month-to-month and quarter-to-quarter comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations. For information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data—Frequently asked questions.

Monthly estimates for constant dollars are calculated using quarterly deflators from the Building Construction Price Index (18-10-0276-01). The monthly indexes used for the deflation process were part of a methodology review to increase the quality of the constant dollar and seasonally adjusted series. The indexes previously displayed a step pattern because of less frequent collection.

Detailed data on investment activity by type of building and type of work are now available in the unadjusted current dollar series.

The trade and services subcomponent includes buildings such as retail and wholesale outlets, retail complexes and motor vehicle show rooms. More detailed information can be found on the Integrated Metadatabase at Types of Building Structure – 2.2.1 – Trade and services.

Next release

Data on investment in building construction for August will be released on October 20.

Source: Statistics Canada