The value of building permits fell less than expected in July as both the residential and non-residential sectors declined, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday.
Values were down 3.3% to $6.4 billion during the month, but were still up 33% from July 2009, the federal agency said.
Economists had expected permits to slip by as much as 4.9% in July.
Statistics Canada said non-residential permits fell 4.3% from June to $2.9 billion, while residential permits declined 2.4% to $3.5 billion.
Permit values fell in six provinces, with the largest declines in Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. Ontario and Saskatchewan recorded the biggest gains in July.
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