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New Housing Price Index

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September 2009 (Previous release)

Contractors' selling prices rose 0.5% in September following a 0.1% increase in August. This was the largest month-over-month increase since January 2008 (+0.6%).

Between August and September, prices increased the most in Vancouver (+1.4%), followed by Ottawa–Gatineau (+1.0%), Calgary (+0.6%), Toronto and Oshawa (+0.5%) as well as Saskatoon (+0.5%).

In Vancouver, prices continued to increase as some builders moved to new phases of development. Others raised their list prices as consumer interest increased and market conditions continued to improve.

In Ottawa–Gatineau and Toronto and Oshawa, many builders pushed up their prices due to prevailing good market conditions in those cities.

In Calgary, some builders increased their prices either due to higher labour costs or to moving to new phases with higher development costs. In addition, several builders have slowly raised their prices because of an improved new housing market.

The largest monthly decrease in new housing prices was recorded in Windsor (-0.7%), where some builders reported lower negotiated selling prices this month.

Monthly declines were also observed in Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay (-0.5%), Victoria (-0.2%) and Edmonton (-0.1%).

12-month change: Western Canada declines continue in the New Housing Price Index

Year over year, the New Housing Price Index was down 2.7% in September, following a 3.1% decline in August. The largest declines continued to be in Western Canada.

On the Prairies, 12-month declines were recorded in Edmonton (-11.4%), Calgary (-6.4%) and Saskatoon (-5.1%).

On the West Coast, Victoria (-10.4%) and Vancouver (-6.4%) also posted year-over-year declines.

Percentage change from the same month of the previous year (cities with the smallest or negative change)

Among surveyed cities, the largest year-over-year increase was again registered in St. John's (+7.5%). An increase in net migration in 2008/2009 in Newfoundland and Labrador, coupled with a strong economy, has kept demand for new housing high in that province.

On a year-over-year basis, prices in Québec (+6.3%) and in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton (+3.1%) also increased. Contractors' selling prices were also higher in Regina (+1.8%), Charlottetown (+1.7%) and Winnipeg (+1.4%).

Percentage change from the same month of the previous year (cities with the largest positive change)

Available on CANSIM: table 327-0005.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2310.

The third quarter 2009 issue of Capital Expenditure Price Statistics (62-007-X, free) will be available in January 2010.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (613-951-9606; toll-free 1-866-230-2248; fax: 613-951-3117; prices-prix@statcan.gc.ca), Producer Prices Division.

Table 1

New housing price indexes
  September 2009 September 2008 to September 2009 August to September 2009
  (1997=100) % change
Canada total 154.4 -2.7 0.5
House only 162.5 -3.2 0.7
Land only 137.8 -1.9 0.1
St. John's 183.1 7.5 0.0
Charlottetown 121.2 1.7 0.0
Halifax 150.7 0.5 0.1
Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton 121.0 3.1 0.4
Québec 167.0 6.3 0.0
Montréal 165.6 1.5 0.2
Ottawa–Gatineau 171.4 1.3 1.0
Toronto and Oshawa 145.7 -0.5 0.5
Hamilton 150.5 -1.6 0.2
St. Catharines–Niagara 155.2 -1.8 0.1
London 144.4 0.8 0.0
Kitchener 143.0 0.4 0.1
Windsor 103.1 -0.5 -0.7
Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay 112.1 -0.4 -0.5
Winnipeg 183.3 1.4 0.1
Regina 252.9 1.8 0.0
Saskatoon 212.7 -5.1 0.5
Calgary 231.9 -6.4 0.6
Edmonton 207.4 -11.4 -0.1
Vancouver 116.1 -6.4 1.4
Victoria 106.3 -10.4 -0.2
Note(s):
View the census subdivisions that comprise the metropolitan areas online.