March Housing Starts in New Brunswick

MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwire - April 11, 2012) - Residential construction activity in New Brunswick's urban centres increased in March according to figures released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Preliminary data¹ indicate that a total of 32 starts were recorded during the month compared to 19 starts for the same period in 2011.

"In terms of residential housing starts in provincial urban centres, the first quarter of 2012 was marked by a moderate increase in single starts combined with a significant rise in multiple starts, most notably in Greater Moncton," said Claude Gautreau, CMHC's senior market analyst for New Brunswick. Single starts in March totalled 24 units in provincial urban centres, up from last year's monthly total of 14 units. Multiple starts were up to eight units from last year's March total of five units. For the quarter, multiple starts were up to 109 units from last year's first quarter total of 21 units.

In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in March were up 18 per cent to 13,761 units compared to 11,655 a year ago. Single-detached starts increased 11 per cent to 4,030 units, while multiple starts increased 21 per cent to 9,731 units in March. In the Atlantic region, 333 new units were started compared to 271 during March 2011.

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of high quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable housing solutions. 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 informed decisions.

For more information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642. CMHC Market Analysis standard reports are also available free for download at CMHC Housing Market Information.

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

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PRELIMINARY URBAN MONTHLY HOUSING STARTS NEW BRUNSWICK SUMMARY

	2012	2011		YEAR-TO -DATE
			% Change			% Change
	MAR	MAR		2012	2011
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS > 50,000
SAINT JOHN CMA
Single	5	7	-28.6%	17	23	-26.1%
Multiple	0	3	# #	17	15	13.3%
TOTAL	5	10	-50.0%	34	38	-10.5%
MONCTON CMA
Single	7	1	# #	22	11	# #
Multiple	8	2	# #	88	2	# #
TOTAL	15	3	##	110	13	##
FREDERICTON CA
Single	9	6	50.0%	27	37	-27.0%
Multiple	0	0	-	4	4	0.0%
TOTAL	9	6	50.0%	31	41	-24.4%
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATION >10,000*
ALL CENTRES
Single	24	14	71.4%	78	73	6.8%
Multiple	8	5	60.0%	109	21	# #
TOTAL	32	19	68.4%	187	94	98.9%

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 (Saint John CMA, Moncton CMA, Fredericton CA, Bathurst CA, Campbellton CA, Edmundston CA, and Miramichi CA).

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

PRELIMINARY QUARTERLY HOUSING STARTS
NEW BRUNSWICK SUMMARY
	2012	2011		YEAR-TO-DATE
			% Change			% Change
	Q1	Q1		2012	2011
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS > 10,000
SAINT JOHN CMA
Single	17	23	-26.1%	17	23	-26.1%
Multiple	17	15	13.3%	17	15	13.3%
TOTAL	34	38	-10.5%	34	38	-10.5%
MONCTON CMA
Single	22	11	##	22	11	##
Multiple	88	2	##	88	2	##
TOTAL	110	13	##	110	13	##
FREDERICTON CA
Single	27	37	-27.0%	27	37	-27.0%
Multiple	4	4	0.0%	4	4	0.0%
TOTAL	31	41	-24.4%	31	41	-24.4%
BATHURST CA
Single	2	1	##	2	1	##
Multiple	0	0	-	0	0	-
TOTAL	2	1	##	2	1	##
CAMPBELLTON CA
Single	2	0	-	2	0	-
Mulitple	0	0	-	0	0
TOTAL	2	0	-	2	0	-
EDMUNDSTON CA
Single	3	1	##	3	1	##
Multiple	0	0	-	0	0	-
TOTAL	3	1	##	3	1	##
MIRAMICHI CA
Single	5	0	-	5	0	-
Multiple	0	0	-	0	0	-
TOTAL	5	0	-	5	0	-
ALL URBAN
CENTRES*
Single	78	73	6.8%	78	73	6.8%
Multiple	109	21	##	109	21	##
TOTAL	187	94	98.9%	187	94	98.9%

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 (Saint John CMA, Moncton CA, Fredericton CA, Bathurst CA, Campbellton CA, Edmundston CA, and Miramichi City).

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

Data for 2006 on 2001 Census Definitions.

Data for 2009 on 2006 Preliminary Census Definitions.

**New Metropolitan Area as of 2009.