March Housing Starts in New Brunswick

MONCTON, April 12 /CNW/ - Residential construction in New Brunswick's urban centres was down in March according to figures released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Preliminary data(1) indicates that a total of 63 starts were recorded in March compared to 70 starts for the same period in 2009.

"The moderate decline observed in March was the result of fewer multiple starts, as single starts for the month remained unchanged from last year," said Claude Gautreau, CMHC's senior market analyst for New Brunswick. Single starts in provincial urban centres during the month of March totaled 33 units. After the first quarter, single starts were up nine per cent to 111 units.

A total of 30 multiple starts were recorded in March, down slightly from the total of 37 units during the same month last year. On a year-to-date basis, multiple starts were up 20 per cent to 189 units. "Although increased activity in Moncton and Fredericton during the first quarter was partially offset by fewer apartment starts in Saint John, multiple starts were ahead of last year's pace at the end of the first quarter," continued Gautreau.

In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in March were up 32 per cent to 11,371 units compared to last year's total of 8,605. Single-detached starts more than doubled, rising to 5,536 units from 2,550 units, while multiple starts were down four per cent to 5,835 units this year. In the Atlantic region, 311 new units were started in March 2010 compared to 244 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.

    
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    (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 URBAN MONTHLY HOUSING STARTS
                            NEW BRUNSWICK SUMMARY
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           2010     2009               YEAR-TO-DATE
                           --------------- % Change  --------------- % Change
                            MAR      MAR              2010     2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
           ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS GREATER THAN 50,000
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SAINT JOHN CMA
    Single                    9       13    -30.8%      35      40     -12.5%
    Multiple                  7       31    -77.4%      72     123     -41.5%
    TOTAL                    16       44    -63.6%     107     163     -34.4%
    MONCTON CA
    Single                   17        6      (XX)      37      22      68.2%
    Multiple                 22        6      (XX)      67      32       (XX)
    TOTAL                    39       12      (XX)     104      54      92.6%
    FREDERICTON CA
    Single                    6       11    -45.5%      35      30      16.7%
    Multiple                  0        0        -       48       2       (XX)
    TOTAL                     6       11    -45.5%      83      32       (XX)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
           ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATION GREATER THAN 10,000(X)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    ALL CENTRES
    Single                   33       33      0.0%     111      102      8.8%
    Multiple                 30       37    -18.9%     189      157     20.4%
    TOTAL                    63       70    -10.0%     300      259     15.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    (X)  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).
    (xx) 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
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           2010     2009               YEAR-TO-DATE
                           --------------- % Change  --------------- % Change
                             Q1       Q1              2010     2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
           ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS GREATER THAN 10,000
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SAINT JOHN CMA
    Single                   35       40    -12.5%      35       40    -12.5%
    Multiple                 72      123    -41.5%      72      123    -41.5%
    TOTAL                   107      163    -34.4%     107      163    -34.4%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    MONCTON CMA
    Single                   37       22     68.2%      37       22     68.2%
    Multiple                 67       32      (XX)      67       32      (XX)
    TOTAL                   104       54     92.6%     104       54     92.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    FREDERICTON CA
    Single                   35       30     16.7%      35       30     16.7%
    Multiple                 48        2      (XX)      48        2      (XX)
    TOTAL                    83       32      (XX)      83       32      (XX)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    BATHURST CA
    Single                    1        3    -66.7%       1        3    -66.7%
    Multiple                  2        0        -        2        0        -
    TOTAL                     3        3      0.0%       3        3      0.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CAMPBELLTON CA
    Single                    0        1      (XX)       0        1      (XX)
    Multiple                  0        0        -        0        0        -
    TOTAL                     0        1      (XX)       0        1      (XX)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    EDMUNDSTON CA
    Single                    2        1      (XX)       2        1      (XX)
    Multiple                  0        0        -        0        0        -
    TOTAL                     2        1      (XX)       2        1      (XX)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    MIRAMICHI CA
    Single                    1        5    -80.0%       5        5      0.0%
    Multiple                  0        0        -        0        0        -
    TOTAL                     1        5    -80.0%       5        5      0.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    ALL URBAN CENTRES*
    Single                  111      102      8.8%     111      102      8.8%
    Multiple                189      157     20.4%     189      157     20.4%
    TOTAL                   300      259     15.8%     300      259     15.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

For further information: Claude Gautreau, CMHC Market Analysis Centre, [phone], Cell: [phone], [email protected]