September 17, 2009 - The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts increased to 150,400 units in August from 134,200 units in July, according to a recent report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“Housing starts are trending higher, reflecting improvements in both the single and multiple segments,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre. “The improvement in housing starts is consistent with our expectation of a stronger second half for 2009.”

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 14.0 per cent to 131,800 units in August. Urban multiple starts increased by 23.8 per cent to 77,600 units, while urban single starts moved up 2.5 per cent to 54,200 units in August.

August’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 56.0 per cent in British Columbia, by 16.1 per cent in the Prairies, by 13.8 per cent in Ontario, by 9.6 per cent in Atlantic Canada, and by 2.5 per cent in Quebec.

Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 18,600 units in August.