Construction spending edges up in August

OTTAWA ― Investment in building construction increased 1.4% in August to $15.5 billion, StatCan reports, with gains in both the residential and non-residential sectors. On a constant dollar basis, investment in building construction increased 1.2% to $13 billion. Investment in residential building construction was up 1.8% in August to $10.6 billion. The multi-unit component edged up 0.4% to $5.3 billion, led by a $129.2 million increase in Ontario. Investment in single-unit construction increased 3.2% to $5.4 billion, slightly exceeding multi-unit residential investment. This was partly due to gains of $94 million in Ontario and $47.5 million in Alberta.