The seasonally adjusted value of building permits issued by Alberta municipalities* was virtually the same in February as it was the month before, rising by just 0.2 per cent.

The total, however, masks some large differences within the construction sector.

Residential permit value was 19.5 per cent lower in February compared to the month before, with multiple dwelling building permits down by 39.2 per cent.

A doubling of government sector building permits (+107.6 per cent) and a strong rise in commercial permit value (+33.7 per cent) pushed up the non-residential total by 52.7 per cent in February compared to January.

Industrial building intentions were down by 2.9 per cent compared to January 2021.

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

Answer to the previous trivia question: Which newspaper is older: the Calgary Herald or the Edmonton Journal? The Herald began in 1883 while the Journal began in 1903.

Today’s trivia question: Where is the tallest residential tower in the world?