Canada Housing Starts Lose Momentum

Canada’s housing starts softened again in Late-Q1 2026. The annualized pace ↓6% MoM to 235,852 units, while the 6-mo trend ↓2.9% to 248,378.
Actual starts in larger population centers still ↑10% yearly to 16,398 in Late-Q1, lifting the year-to-date total to 49,206, up 9% from 2025.
An economist said the yearly gain mostly reflected an exceptionally weak 2025 base, while current construction momentum kept fading despite volatile monthly data.
Rural starts were estimated at an annualized 11,846 units. Canada’s three largest metro areas posted double-digit yearly gains, led mainly by multi-unit projects.
The broader outlook stayed cooler: another industry group cut its 2026 home sales forecast, while the agency expected national starts to decline through 2028.