Statscan reported that construction activity was down 3.0% in January 2009, measured as seasonally adjusted monthly change. Residential and non-residential building construction as well as engineering and repair work decreased. There was a sharp decline in residential building construction (-6.4%), particularly in the construction of new dwellings. Commercial and industrial building construction also contracted, while that of institutional buildings edged up.

The output of real estate agents and brokers continued to decline in January (-2.6%) as housing sales decreased again. This also affected professional services associated with housing sales, particularly legal services.