Statistics Canada says the value of building permits in Saskatchewan fell about 28 per cent in January. At the same time, the average across the country was a rise of about 8.2 per cent. That was skewed heavily by Quebec with a rise of about 25 per cent. Saskatchewan’s drop was by no means the largest in percentage terms; Newfoundland and Labrador was off 85.5 per cent and Nova Scotia by about 47 per cent.

In Saskatchewan, the value dropped about 30 per cent on the residential side and about 23 per cent on the non-residential side. Compared to the same month a year before, the value was down 6.3 per cent overall. The total value of permits rang in at just over $121 million in the province.

Having a look at the numbers by census metropolitan area, Saskatoon saw values drop 35.5 per cent month-to-month and 0.9 per cent year-to-year. The national average was a rise of nine per cent since December and a rise of two percent compared to January 2020. In the Saskatoon CMA, the total value added up to $59.6 million in January. Regina totaled $25.9 million. That was a drop since December of 5.8 per cent and since January a year ago of nearly 42 per cent.