Press Release

Housing starts and construction data for August 2026

Oleh Maswan 16 Sep 2026 19:15 4 menit baca

EmitenTrust.com OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 16, 2026 /CNW/ -- The six-month trend in housing starts was down 1.3% in August compared to July to 244,149 units, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend measure is a six-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of total housing starts for all areas in Canada.

Actual monthly housing starts were down 2% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or more, with 17,691 units recorded in August, compared to 18,112 units in August 2025. The year-to-date total was 149,542 units, down 4% from the same period in 2025.

The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada was flat in August (229,046 units) compared to July (229,360 units).

The number of units under construction in centres with a population of 50,000 or more in August was flat, down 0.4% month-over-month to 371,658 units compared to July. Completions decreased with construction finishing on 17,550 units, down 11.2% compared to July. The number of units with approved building permits but not yet started increased slightly (+0.7%) month-to-month to 142,423 units in August.

Quote:

"Housing starts continued to trend slightly down in August, as modest gains in Quebec and Alberta only partially offset the decline in other provinces, most notably, Ontario," said Kevin Hughes, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC. "The latest results are consistent with CMHC's Housing Market Outlook. While the current pace of starts is elevated compared to recent years, we expect the downward trend to continue as construction activity moderates in the coming months especially towards the end of the year"

Key Facts:

The rural starts monthly SAAR estimate was 11,224 units.
Among Canada's three biggest CMAs, Montreal posted a 6% month-to-month increase in the six-month trend, driven by higher starts of all types. Vancouver also recorded a 6% increase due to higher multi-unit starts while the trend measure in Toronto was flat, as the trends for both single-detached and multi-unit starts were unchanged.
Read more about what housing starts measure and why they matter on CMHC's Housing Observer.
Monthly Housing Starts and Other Construction Data are accessible in English and French on our website and the CMHC Housing Market Information Portal.
Housing starts data is available on the eleventh business day each month. We will release the September housing starts data on October 16 at 8:15 AM ET.
CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and to obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply. In some situations, analyzing only SAAR data can be misleading, as the multi-unit segment largely drives the market and can vary significantly from one month to the next.
Read about CMHC's definitions and methodology to better understand the foundations of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys.

Housing starts data facilitates the analysis of monthly, quarterly, and year-over-year construction activity in the new home market. The data CMHC collects as part of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys helps us obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply and is used as part of our various housing reports.

For 80 years, CMHC has been the foundation of Canada's housing system, promoting stability and sustainability. CMHC's mortgage insurance products support access to home ownership and the creation and maintenance of rental supply. CMHC research and data help inform housing policy. By facilitating cooperation between all levels of government, private and non-profit sectors, CMHC contributes to advancing housing affordability, equity, and climate compatibility. CMHC actively supports the Government of Canada in delivering on its commitment to make housing more affordable.

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SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)