OTTAWA—Investment in non-residential building construction saw increases in two of three industry segments in the second quarter of 2018, according to new figures from Statistics Canada.
The government agency tracked increased spending of 1.6 and 4.8 per cent in the commercial and industrial markets respectively, enough to offset a 0.9 per cent decline in the institutional segment. Total investment in non-residential building construction ended the quarter at $14.3 billion, or up 1.4 per cent from the first three months of the year.
While total investment crept up, the decline in institutional building snapped a four-quarter string of increases for the segment. Statistics Canada pointed to less spending on schools, nursing homes, courthouses and penitentiaries as reasons for the lower institutional spending.
