The New Housing Price Index (NHPI) rose 0.2% in March, following an identical increase in February.
The metropolitan region of Calgary was the top contributor to the gain, marking the third consecutive month it has led the way in Canada. The region also experienced the largest monthly price gain, up 0.8% over February. Builders reported that higher material and labour costs, market conditions and the cost of developed land were the primary reasons for the increase.
New home prices in St. John's (+0.3%) rose for the first time since August, as builders reported new list prices for the year. Prices rose 0.1% in Halifax, Hamilton and Winnipeg.
Prices were down in five metropolitan areas in March. Prices declined 0.4% in Charlottetown, as builders reported lowering prices on inventory homes to generate sales. Prices in the region have been unchanged or declining for eight months.
Following three months of no price movements, new housing prices fell 0.2% in Victoria as a result of market conditions.
In Saskatoon, new housing prices declined by 0.1% as a result of lower list prices and negotiated selling prices. This was the first decrease in Saskatoon since July 2013.
Prices were also down 0.1% in Ottawa–Gatineau and Vancouver.
Prices were unchanged in 11 of the 21 metropolitan areas surveyed.
On a year-over-year basis, the NHPI rose 1.6% in March, following a 1.5% increase in February.
The two main contributors to the annual advance were Calgary (+7.5%) and the combined metropolitan region of Toronto and Oshawa (+1.6%). The year-over-year increase in Calgary was the largest since July 2007.
New housing prices were up in St. Catharines–Niagara (+3.4%) and Saskatoon (+2.9%) compared with March 2013.
Other significant year-over-year increases occurred in Hamilton (+2.6%), Winnipeg (+2.4%) and St. John's (+2.3%). The year-over-year increase in St. John's was that region's largest since October 2011.
Among the 21 metropolitan areas surveyed, 5 posted 12-month price declines in March: Vancouver (-1.1%), Ottawa–Gatineau (-1.0%), Victoria (-0.9%), Charlottetown (-0.4%) and Edmonton (-0.1%). This was the first annual decline in Charlottetown since March 2013.