The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
June 16, 2021HOUSING STARTS, MAY 2021 With May reference month results, year-over-year (May 2021 vs May 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-May 21 vs Jan-May 20) are in part showing the rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nova Scotia’s housing starts (seasonally adjusted annualized rate) totalled 8,798 units in May 2021. This was 148.2% above the 3,545 units started in April 2021.
Housing starts in Halifax increased 338.4% month-over-month to 6,813 units. Outside of Halifax, housing starts were down 0.3% from April and totalled 1,985 units in May.
Compared to May 2020, Nova Scotia’s housing starts were up 138.8% with higher starts both in and outside of Halifax. Housing starts in Halifax were up 156.0% year-over-year while outside of Halifax housing starts were up 94.0%.
Housing starts trended down across the province in the first half of 2020 before rebounding in the summer of 2020. Since then, housing starts have trended up across the province. In recent months, the six-month moving average both in and outside of Halifax have been above the long-run average pace.
In urban areas, housing starts for multiples are generally higher than for singles with greater variability month-to-month. The six-month moving average for singles has trended upward since early 2019. The six-month moving average for multiples rose during the summer months of 2018 and declined until the first quarter of 2019. After a period of fluctuation in 2019 and 2020, the six-month moving average for multiples has been at an elevated level in the first five months of 2021.
In Canada, housing starts increased 3.2% from the previous month to 275,916 units in May 2021. When compared to May 2020, housing starts in Canada were up 41.4%.
Housing starts increased in seven provinces from April 2021 to May 2021, led by Nova Scotia (148.2%). Newfoundland and Labrador (-10.0%) posted the largest decrease.
During the first five months of 2021, Nova Scotia's housing starts were up 41.1% compared to the same period last year. Canada’s housing starts increased 48.3%. Housing starts rose in all provinces with Newfoundland and Labrador posting the strongest growth (+160.9%), and Prince Edward Island the slowest (+15.6%).
Note: Urban areas are defined as areas over 10,000 people
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0158-01 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts, all areas, Canada and provinces, seasonally adjusted at annual rates, monthly (x 1,000) ; Table 34-10-0156-01 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts in all centres 10,000 and over, Canada, provinces, and census metropolitan areas, seasonally adjusted at annual rates, monthly (x 1,000)
<--- Return to Archive
