After rising by 24% in September due to a large permit for the expansion of the Calgary International Airport’s Airside Maintenance Centre, the seasonally adjusted value of building permits issued by Alberta municipalities* fell by 21% in October.

Monthly permit value was, however, 11% higher than in October 2020 and 10% above October 2019.

Led by multiple-unit buildings, residential permits were up by 7% in October while non-residential permits plunged by 55%.

Compared to 12 months earlier, residential permit value was up by 28% while non-residential permit value was down by 20% due to a 71% drop in institutional and governmental permits.

Nationally, construction intentions were up by 1.3% compared to September with New Brunswick and British Columbia up the most at 15.6% and 15.0%, respectively.

Year-to-date permit value was above where things stood at the same point last year in every province except Newfoundland and Labrador.

*Statistics Canada’s Building Permits Survey covers all Canadian municipalities that issue permits.

Answer to the previous trivia question: According to the World Trade Organization, agricultural products accounted for 9.4% total global merchandise exports in 2019?

Today’s trivia question: Which city is home to the tallest residential tower in the world?