Month over month, investment in building construction increased 4.5 per cent to $20.4 billion in March, according to Statistics Canada. The federal-government department says the residential sector was up 5.4 per cent to $14.3 billion, while investment in the non-residential sector increased 2.3 per cent to $6.1 billion.

For residential, increases were recorded in seven provinces, with Ontario (+6.5 per cent; +$344.2 million) and Quebec (+9.2 per cent; +$232.1 million) leading the way. Nationally, investment in detached single-family homes grew 6.5 per cent to $7.3 billion in March, up for the eighth consecutive month. Multi-unit investment was up 4.4 per cent to $7.0 billion. Gains in Ontario (+7.2 per cent; +$190.6 million) and British Columbia (+9.4 per cent; +$129.1 million) were slowed by smaller declines in five other provinces, such as Alberta (-2.2 per cent; -$19.4 million) and Manitoba (-6.5 per cent; -$12.7 million).

Investment in the non-residential sector increased 2.3 per cent to $6.1 billion in March, with all three components posting gains. Industrial investment rose 3.1 per cent to $1.3 billion, and investment in the commercial component rebounded (+2.0 per cent to $3 billion) after eight consecutive months of declines. Much of the increase was due to Ontario (+3.6 per cent; +$43.8 million).

Notably, investment in the institutional component grew 2.1 per cent to reach $1.8 billion in March, a record high. The monthly increase recorded in March was the ninth monthly increase in a row.

Investment in building construction rose for the third straight quarter, increasing 1 per cent to $59.7 billion. Investment in residential building construction permits increased 1.4 per cent to $41.6 billion in the first quarter. Gains in the single-family homes component (+6.2 per cent; +$1.2 billion) more than offset declines in the multi-unit component (-3 per cent; -$647.8 million).

Investment in the non-residential sector edged up 0.2 per cent to $18.1 billion in the first quarter. Growth in the institutional component (+7.2 per cent; +$350.8 million) and industrial component (+2.0 per cent; +$76.5 million) were dragged down by the commercial component (-4.1 per cent; -$389.9 million). Overall, 11 provinces and territories reported a decrease in commercial construction intentions.