December Housing Starts for the St. John's Area

ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwire - Jan. 11, 2011) - Housing starts in the St. John's region were lower during the month of December, according to preliminary data¹ released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). December's housing starts totaled 172 throughout the St. John's area versus 201 starts in December of 2009. There were 27 additional starts recorded outside the St. John's area, for a total of 199 provincial urban housing starts compared to 223 last December. For 2010, total starts were above 2009 levels, with 1,816 recorded throughout the St. John's region versus 1,703 in 2009.

"Despite the record mild weather, total starts fell short of December 2009 levels due to both lower multiple unit and single-detached unit starts activity," said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. "New home construction slowed during the final months of 2010, but finished the year up seven per cent overall," added Janes.

In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in December were down two per cent to 12,040 units compared to 2009's total of 12,268. Single-detached starts declined 20 per cent to 4,981 units, while multiple starts increased 17 per cent to 7,059 units in 2010. In the Atlantic region, 611 new units were started in December 2010 compared to 672 units during the same period in 2009.

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making vital decisions.

¹ Figures for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revisions due to corrections or updates from quarterly enumeration or sampling results.

For more information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

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PRELIMINARY QUARTERLY HOUSING STARTS

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR SUMMARY

	2010	2009			YEAR-TO -DATE
			% Change				% Change
	Q4	Q4			2010	2009
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS > 10,000
ST. JOHN'S CMA
Single	366	388	-5.7	%	1,479	1,385	6.8	%
Multiple	122	132	-7.6	%	337	318	6.0	%
TOTAL	488	520	-6.2	%	1,816	1,703	6.6	%
BAY ROBERTS CA
Single	19	22	-13.6	%	92	78	17.9	%
Multiple	0	0	-		0	2	##
TOTAL	19	22	-13.6	%	92	80	15.0	%
CORNER BROOK CA
Single	16	18	-11.1	%	61	62	-1.6	%
Multiple	8	0	-		22	8	##
TOTAL	24	18	33.3	%	83	70	18.6	%
GANDER CA
Single	16	20	-20.0	%	68	98	-30.6	%
Multiple	28	0	-		46	20	##
TOTAL	44	20	##		114	118	-3.4	%
GRAND FALLS/
WINDSOR CA
Single	15	10	50.0	%	64	39	64.1	%
Multiple	6	0	-		44	12	##
TOTAL	21	10	##		108	51	##
ALL CENTRES*
Single	432	458	-5.7	%	1,764	1,662	6.1	%
Multiple	164	132	24.2	%	449	360	24.7	%
TOTAL	596	590	1.0	%	2,213	2,022	9.4	%

Figures for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revisions due to corrections or updates from quarterly enumeration or sampling results.

* Includes all centres with a total population of more than 10,000 (St . John's CMA, Corner Brook CA, Gander CA, Grand Falls/Windsor CA, and Bay Roberts CA)

## Indicates changes in excess of 100% which are not reported due to volatility resulting from small absolute numbers.