Building permits, March 2017

The value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities fell 5.8 percent to $7 billion in March, marking a second consecutive monthly decrease. Nationally, the decline was mainly the result of lower construction intentions for multi-family dwellings. The value of building permits for non-residential structures edged down 0.5 percent to $2.4 billion in March, a second consecutive monthly decline. Lower construction intentions for commercial buildings led the drop, moderated by gains in the institutional and industrial components. In March, construction intentions for commercial structures fell 7.6 percent to $1.3 billion. The institutional component climbed 9.1 percent to $658 million in March. The value of building permits issued for industrial structures rose 10.5 percent to $440 million.