Q4 non-residential construction up

OTTAWA — Investment in non-residential building construction reached $12.9 billion in the fourth quarter, according to StatCan, up 0.3% from the previous quarter. Higher spending in the institutional and industrial components led to a third consecutive quarterly increase. Investment in industrial projects was up 1.1% to $1.6 billion in the fourth quarter. This was the second consecutive quarterly increase. Gains in this component were mainly the result of the construction of manufacturing plants and primary industry buildings in Ontario as well as maintenance buildings in Alberta. Investment in commercial building construction amounted to $7.8 billion in the fourth quarter, down 0.4% from the previous quarter, following two consecutive quarterly increases.