Value of building permits up by 18%

The value of building permits rose to $6.1 billion in October, an increase of 18 per centover September.

Statistics Canada attributed the spiketo construction intentions for single-family dwellings and non-residential permits.

The value of building permits for single-family dwellings increased for an eighth consecutive month, up 10.1 per centto $2.4 billion in October. Every province except Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island contributed to the advance in single-family construction intentions.

The value of building permits for multi-family dwellings fell 8.2 per centto $1 billion after increasing 34.3 per centin September.

Municipalities issued permits worth$2.7billion, up42.4 per centfollowing a9.2 per centdecline in September.Municipalities have issued building permits worth $48.3 billion between January and October, 20.8 per centless than in the same period in 2008.

In the industrial component, the value of building permits doubled to$709million. This was the third consecutive monthly increase, fuelled by higher construction intentions in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

After four monthly consecutive declines, the value of institutional building permits increased50.9 per centto$904million. The gain was largely attributable to educational institution projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and British Columbia. Ontario had an increase in the value of permits for medical buildings.

Regional strength

In total, the value of building permits was up in six provinces and 20 of Canada's34 largestmetropolitan areas.

The largest increases were in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec. All four provinces saw growth in the value of building permits for single-family dwellings and in the non-residential sector.

After substantial gains in September, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia posted the largest declines in October.