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February 08, 2018CMHC PRELIMINARY HOUSING STARTS, JANUARY 2018 
Nova Scotia's housing starts (seasonally adjusted annualized rate) decreased 6.5 per cent to 3,384 in January 2018 compared to 3,618 in December 2017. This decrease reflects a decline in the Halifax market, where housing starts decreased 24.0 per cent to 2,249 starts in January compared to 2,959 in December.
Compared to January 2017, Nova Scotia housing starts were down 11.2 per cent cent while Halifax starts were up 5.5 per cent.
The six month average of housing starts has remained relatively flat in both Halifax and Nova Scotia through 2017 into the first month of 2018, albiet with some variability month-to-month.
In urban areas, housing starts for multiples are generally higher than for singles with greater variability month-to-month. Starts for singles have remained steady over the last year, while multiples have declined.
Nationally, housing starts remained unchanged with 216,210 in January 2018 compared to 216,275 in December. Housing starts were 5.2 per cent higher than in January 2017. Monthly starts were higher in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and lower in the seven remaining provinces.
Note: Urban areas are defined as areas over 10,000 people
Statistics Canada: CANSIM table 027-0054, CANSIM table 027-0051.
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