Non-residential building investment rises

Tag : construction and building
Statistics Canada reports investment in non-residentialbuilding construction rose 0.9 per cent in the second quarter of2008 on the strength of rising construction prices.
Investment reached $10.5 billion between April and June, up from$9.8 billion during the same period a year ago.
Statistics Canada says spending on medical facilities and officebuildings led the increase.
But after accounting for the higher construction prices, investmentin non-residential construction actually fell 3.7 per cent in 2002constant dollars.
The biggest dollar increases occurred in Ontario, Alberta,Saskatchewan and Quebec.
British Columbia posted the largest drop as a result of lowerspending on commercial, institutional and industrial projects.
Overall, 21 of the 34 census metropolitan areas posted quarterlydeclines, with Vancouver posting a decline of 7.7 per cent, thebiggest drop.