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OTTAWA, Feb 11 (Reuters) - New home prices in Canada edged
up 0.1 percent in December from November, pushed up by strength
in the major regions of Toronto and Vancouver, Statistics Canada
said on Thursday.
Market analysts polled by Reuters had expected a 0.2 percent
gain. Compared with December 2014, prices grew by 1.6 percent.
The Toronto and Oshawa region, which accounts for 28.8
percent of the overall Canadian market, and Vancouver both
posted 0.2 percent advances. Builders in both markets cited new
list prices as a major reason for growth.
There was no change in prices in Calgary, capital of
Canada's energy industry, where the housing market has been hard
hit by a slump in oil. Prices dropped by 0.9 percent from
December 2014.
Prices increased in seven of the 21 metropolitan areas, were
unchanged in 11 and fell in three.
The new housing price index excludes apartments and
condominiums, which the government says are a particular cause
for concern and which account for one-third of new housing.