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New home prices weaken in Canada! {; M1 J, Q0 y, q
Canwest News Service# d1 \% j1 i) i/ ^' a/ e
Published: 7:48 am; v5 |: r; d! y8 A4 }( H. S5 r$ h$ C
OTTAWA - Prices for new homes in Canada rose by 5.2 per cent in April from a year earlier, the slowest pace in more than two and a half years as a weakening Alberta market continued to pull down the national average, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.5 [# Z$ \( J7 Z: {6 ?" z; z
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April's rate was down from a 6.1 per cent year-on-year increase in March, the federal agency said. On a monthly basis, prices were unchanged in April from March.
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"This was the third consecutive month in which the increase has decelerated, and the slowest rate of growth since September 2005, when year-over-year prices rose by 4.9 per cent," it said.
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: e% N: `4 V/ T' U7 o" `( M* B r FIn contrast to strong markets in Saskatchewan and parts of Atlantic Canada, home prices in oil-rich Alberta showed more signs of cooling.
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"Edmonton and Calgary continued to experience slow market conditions," Statistics Canada said. "Competition among builders has resulted in lower prices being offered to prospective homebuyers."
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Prices in Calgary edged up 2.5 per cent in April from a year earlier, compared to a 5.3 per cent year-over-year increase in March.0 P+ M! c7 x. h
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In Edmonton, the year-on-year rate slowed to 8.1 per cent - the ninth straight month of decelerated growth.
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Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan housing market continued to heat up in April. Prices in Saskatoon led the country for the 12th straight month, jumping 43.7 per cent from a year earlier - but down slightly from a 46.2 per cent year-on-year gain in March.
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Prices in Regina were up 34 per cent in April from the same time in 2007, compared to a 27.8 per year-on-year increase in March.
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In Newfoundland and Labrador "a strengthening economy, coupled with increased material and labour costs, has contributed to record increases," Statistics Canada said.- p, ]$ Y2 n( G& o) E
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Prices in St. John's rose 16.3 per cent in April, up from the year-over-year increase of 12 per cent in March.6 k+ E1 s& C6 |* {
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Nova Scotia also saw strong gains, with prices in Halifax increasing 11.3 per cent from a year earlier, although that was down slightly from a record year-on-year gain 12.8 per cent in March.' T: y& [9 b% G! Y
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"The report adds to the growing body of evidence that indicates that the Canadian housing sector may be coming off the boil," said Millan Mulraine, economics strategist at TD Securities.
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8 A9 x4 D4 @" }# L, K. J. X' z8 u"Similar behaviour has also been observed in the price of existing homes. However, it is important to note that the Canadian housing sector remains in reasonable shape and a U.S.-style correction in home prices remains highly unlikely."+ s0 ]5 i6 y/ |/ L6 }* [& ?
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© Canwest News Service 2008 |
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