Building permits rise $1.1 billion to $13.6 billion in August

August permits, in billions of dollars

8.5 residential 5.1 non-residential

Statistics Canada says the gain came from homebuilding, where permits rose $1.1 billion to $8.5 billion. Non-residential permits stood at $5.1 billion.

Multi-unit buildings drove the increase, with permits rising to $5.8 billion, while single-family homes edged down to $2.6 billion.

Non-residential permits in August

• Commercial: down $380 million to $2.2 billion
• Industrial: up $317.3 million to $1.1 billion
• Institutional: up $32.9 million to $1.8 billion

Non-residential permits edged down $29.8 million: commercial plans fell $380 million to $2.2 billion, while industrial and institutional permits rose.