The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported that the annual pace of housing starts in June decreased by 6% compared to May, with seasonally adjusted starts at 238,971 units.This marks a continuation of a downward trend, as the six-month moving average dropped 2.8% to 248,123 units.While overall starts declined, completions rose 8.4% to 18,298 units, indicating a shift in construction activity.CMHC noted that units under construction in major centres (population ≥50,000) increased slightly by 0.2% to 375,469, while permits for new projects fell 1.1% to 137,324 units.Rural starts remained stable at 11,141 units.

These figures suggest a nuanced market dynamic, with builders focusing on completions over new starts, possibly reflecting supply chain adjustments or demand shifts.The data highlights the complexity of the housing market, where regional and sector-specific trends may diverge from national averages.