Investment in Building Construction, March 2026
June 16, 2026
The total value of investment in building construction decreased $304.6 million (-1.3%) to $22.6 billion in March. Investment in the residential sector declined 2.2%, while the non-residential sector edged up 0.6%. Year over year, investment in building construction was down 2.9% in March.
On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of investment in building construction in March decreased 1.6% from the previous month to $20.6 billion and was down 6.4% year over year.
Chart 1
Investment in building construction, seasonally adjusted
Widespread decline within residential construction
In March, investment in residential building construction decreased $345.4 million to $15.5 billion. Declines were recorded in both the multi-unit (-2.3%) and single-family (-2.1%) components.
Investment in multi-unit construction was down $195.5 million to $8.4 billion in March, marking the third consecutive monthly decrease. Ontario (-$152.2 million) drove the decline, supported by Alberta (-$59.0 million) and British Columbia (-$43.7 million). The decrease was tempered by gains in three provinces and two territories, led by Newfoundland and Labrador (+$29.0 million).
Meanwhile, investment in single-family home construction was down $149.9 million to $7.2 billion in March. Ontario (-$119.5 million) led the decrease, supported by broad declines across seven other provinces and one territory.
Infographic 1
Investment in residential building construction, March 2026
Chart 2
Investment in residential building construction, seasonally adjusted
Industrial component leads non-residential growth
In March, the value of non-residential investment in building construction edged up $40.8 million to $7.0 billion. Growth in the industrial component (+3.3%) and, though smaller, the commercial component (+0.1%) was moderated by a slight decline in the institutional component (-0.3%).
Industrial construction investment increased $42.5 million to $1.3 billion in March. The gain in British Columbia (+$52.2 million) was moderated by broad declines across seven provinces and one territory, led by Ontario (-$7.0 million).
Investment in the commercial component edged up $4.4 million to $3.6 billion in March. Alberta (+$9.7 million) and British Columbia (+$3.0 million) were the primary contributors to the increase, while Ontario (-$5.9 million) and Quebec (-$2.0 million) partially offset it.
Meanwhile, investment in the institutional component edged down $6.1 million to $2.1 billion in March. Declines in Quebec (-$9.3 million) and Ontario (-$2.0 million) were tempered by an increase in Alberta (+$4.4 million).
Infographic 2
Investment in non-residential building construction, March 2026
Residential construction sector weighs on investment in the first quarter
The value of investment in building construction edged down 0.7% (-$512.2 million) to $68.8 billion in the first quarter. On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of investment in building construction decreased 1.5% to $62.9 billion.
The remainder of this release will use constant dollars (2023=100).
Investment in residential building construction declined $1.3 billion to $43.7 billion in the first quarter after two consecutive quarterly increases. The decrease was primarily attributed to the multi-unit component (-$947.9 million; -3.8%), followed by the single-family component (-$341.6 million; -1.7%).
Meanwhile, investment in non-residential building construction was up $327.1 million to $19.2 billion in the first quarter. Growth in the commercial (+$235.2 million; +2.5%) and institutional (+$113.3 million; +1.9%) components was moderated by a slight decline in the industrial component (-$21.5 million; -0.6%).
