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June 12, 2019HOUSING STARTS, MAY 2019 
Nova Scotia's housing starts (seasonally adjusted annualized rate) decreased 8.2 per cent to 3,800 in May compared to 4,141 in April. Compared to May 2018, housing starts were down 1.8 per cent.
Housing starts increased 1.0 per cent in Halifax to 2,326 in May compared to 2,304 in April. Halifax starts are up 9.5 per cent compared to May 2018.
The six-month moving average of housing starts in Nova Scotia and Halifax was relatively flat through 2017. During 2018, the six-month moving average rose due to higher starts for multiples and declined after reaching a peak in September.
In urban areas, housing starts for multiples are generally higher than for singles with greater variability month-to-month. The six-month moving average for singles is at levels similar to 2017, with a period in the first half of 2018 when it rose gradually before declining. The six-month moving average for multiples rose during the summer months of 2018 and has declined since September 2018.
Nationally, housing starts are down 13.3 per cent in May to 202,337 compared to 223,410 in April. National housing starts are up 3.9 per cent compared to May 2018.
Comparing the first five months of 2019 with the same period of 2018, housing starts declined 1.7 per cent in Nova Scotia. Housing starts were up in four provinces, with the fastest increase reported in Manitoba (+14.9 per cent). Year-to-date, housing starts declined in six provinces, with Newfoundland and Labrador (-68.6 per cent) reporting the fastest decline, followed by Saskatchewan (-39.6 per cent). Nationally, housing starts are down 7.7 per cent over January-May 2018.
Note: Urban areas are defined as areas over 10,000 people
Statistics Canada Table 34-10-0158-01 and Table 34-10-0156-01
CHMC Housing Market Information Portal
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