Housing starts fall in April

OTTAWA ― The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts nationwide was 191,512 units in April, down from 202,375 units in March. The SAAR of urban starts decreased by 4.6% in April to 174,810 units. Multiple urban starts decreased by 4% to 117,851 units in April and the single-detached urban starts decreased by 5.8% to 56,959 units. In April, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased in the Prairies, British Columbia, Atlantic Canada, but decreased in Ontario and Québec. Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16,702 units.