ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwire - Sept. 9, 2011) - Housing starts in the St. John's region were up during the month of August, according to preliminary data¹ released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). August's housing starts totaled 193 units throughout the St. John's area compared to 179 units in August 2010. There were 21 additional starts recorded in urban centres outside the St. John's region, for a total of 214 provincial urban housing starts.

"A large increase in multiple housing starts activity contributed to the gain in new home construction throughout the St. John's area in August," said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. "Single-detached starts were down, posting a 20 per cent decline in August to 121 units. The trend towards lower levels of single housing starts in 2011 remains, with this segment of the market down 15 per cent compared to a year ago," added Janes.

In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in August were down three per cent to 14,360 units compared to 14,855 a year ago. Single-detached starts declined nine per cent to 5,946 units, while multiple starts increased one per cent to 8,414 units in August. In the Atlantic region, 755 new homes were started compared to 936 units during August 2010.

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of high quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.

1. Figures for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revisions due to corrections or updates from quarterly enumeration or sampling results.

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PRELIMINARY URBAN MONTHLY HOUSING STARTS NEW FOUNDLAND & LABRADOR SUMMARY

	2011	2010		YEAR-TO-DATE
			% Change			% Change
	AUG	AUG		2011	2010
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS > 50,000
ST. JOHN 'S CMA
Single	121	152	-20.4%	835	988	-15.5%
Multiple	72	27	# #	429	189	# #
TOTAL	193	179	7.8%	1,264	1,177	7.4%
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATION >10,000
ALL CENTRES*
Single	138	197	-29.9%	961	1,171	-17.9%
Multiple	76	34	# #	480	249	92.8%
TOTAL	214	231	-7.4%	1,441	1,420	1.5%

Figures for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revisions due to corrections or updates from quarterly enumeration or sampling results.

* Includes all centres with a total population of more than 10,000 (St. John's CMA, Corner Brook CA, Gander MD, Grand Falls/Windsor CA, Bay Roberts CA)

## Indicates changes in excess of 100% which are not reported due to volatility resulting from small absolute numbers.