Total Construction Begins to Trend Down in August

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 8, 2016) - Housing starts in Halifax Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) were trending at 1,914 units in August compared to 2,239 in July according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of housing starts.

"Total construction activity trended down in August due to a slowing in multiples starts," said Guillaume Neault, CMHC Principal Market Analyst for Atlantic Canada. "Single-detached starts, however, are showing some strength so far this year, rebounding from the low levels recorded in 2015," Neault added.

CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state of the housing market. In some situations, analysing only SAAR data can be misleading in some markets, as they are largely driven by the multiples segment of the markets which can be quite variable from one month to the next.

The standalone monthly SAAR was 1,504 units in August, down from 2,422 in July.

Preliminary Housing Starts data is also available in English and French at the following link: Preliminary Housing Starts Tables

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing mar ket and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers objective housing research and information to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry.

For more information, visit our website at www.cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Additional data is available upon request.

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