The August Canadian edition of The Monitor, a monthly analysis of trends in the construction and cement industries published by the Portland Cement Association, reports that significant projects on the horizon should support construction spending in the provinces in the long term. This includes preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia.

PCA reports the level of nonresidential permit activity has grown for five of the first six months of the year. While industrial construction activity slipped in June, the picture is still one of growth for the year. However, overall trend is clearly on the downside considering a variety of factors.

Key statistics from the August Canadian edition of The Monitor:

• Portland cement consumption declined 5.0 percent in May; year-to-date consumption is up 1.9 percent.
• Masonry cement consumption increased 0.7 percent in May against last year’s level; year-to-date consumption is down 2.6 percent..
• Portland cement exports for May increased 7.5 percent in the shadow of an 81% increase in exports of masonry cement; year-to-date exports are down 1.2 percent.

Reflecting on data from several government-issued reports, The Monitor breaks down national economic trends, reports on cement consumption, and provides an in-depth analysis of construction activity for the residential, commercial, and public sectors.