Stats & Facts

15.4%

Severe flooding in British Columbia affected business activity in the fourth quarter of 2021, with the market for wood products among the most impacted. In November, sawmills increased production as higher construction activities in the United States spurred greater demand for Canadian lumber products. This added upward pressure on prices. But despite increased production, sawmills saw their inventories grow as flooding reduced the ability of manufacturers to bring products to market, resulting in a quarterly decline of 15.4 per cent in net income before taxes. Manufacturing businesses in the eastern provinces were also affected, as disruptions in rail service from the Port of Vancouver posed a supply constraint.

—Statistics Canada

8.8%

The total value of building permits decreased 8.8 per cent to $10.1 billion in January. The residential market fell 11.6 per cent to $6.7 billion, with the majority of the drop occurring in the multi-residential sector. The non-residential sector dipped 2.7 per cent to $3.4 billion, pulled down by the fall in the commercial component. Ontario and British Columbia experienced the largest declines in both the residential and non-residential markets.

13.1%

2.8%

The fourth quarter of 2021 saw the kitchen and bath industry continue to weather a series of challenges. Approximately three-quarters of designers reported backlogs of more than three months, with the remainder experiencing a backup of more than six months. Supply chain disruption, material costs, labour availability and inflation topped the reasons for delays. These challenges are expected to persist in 2022, which may actually help the industry see long-term growth by spreading out projects. The industry is projected to increase 13.1 per cent by year’s end.

—National Kitchen and Bath Association —Statistics Canada

3.4%

The trend in housing starts was down 2.8 per cent to 254,133 units in January, from 261,352 units in December. Single-detached starts were higher, while multi-family starts declined. Among Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, Montreal was the only market to post growth due to higher single-detached and multi-family starts. High-pressure laminate flooring production is projected to climb 3.4 per cent annually through 2024, to 162.9 million square metres, valued at $1 billion US. Use of high-pressure laminate flooring is much lower than that of low-pressure laminate flooring because of its high cost, although its superior impact resistance and greater durability make it a viable option for nonresidential applications.