The value of building permits issued in January slipped 4.9% to $5.7-billion as non-residential construction permits fell 21% to $1.7-billion, Statistics Canada reported yesterday. Economists had called for a 0.8% month-over-month gain in building permits, an indication of future construction activity. However, the value of residential building permits issued rose 4.1% to $4-billion, almost twice the value registered in January 2009, and driven largely by a 7.2% rise in intentions for single-family homes, the federal agency said. January's figures were still 32.7% higher than in January 2009, Statistics Canada said.
