The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported Monday that the seasonally adjusted rate of housing starts reached 197,400 in June compared to 194,100 units in both May and April. Urban single starts led the increase, climbing 11.1 percent in June to 70,900 units. Urban multiple starts declined by 3.1 percent to 103,700 units.
Despite the gains in June, Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC's Market Analysis Centre commented, "The revised numbers show that housing starts have been above their trend line since March. However, we expect housing starts to move back towards levels consistent with demographic fundamentals in the near term."