Housing starts rise in December

OTTAWA — The rate of housing starts was 207,041 units (seasonally adjusted) in December, according to Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. data, up from 187,273 units in November. The SAAR of urban starts increased by 11.8% in December to 187,621 units. Multiple urban starts increased by 13.9% to 120,750 units in December and single-detached urban starts increased by 8.1%, to 66,871 units. In December, the SAAR of urban starts increased in Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies, but decreased in British Columbia and in Atlantic Canada.