Source: The Canadian Press

The New Housing Price Index increased 0.1% in August after a 0.1% decrease in July.

Statistics Canada reports the top contributors to the monthly increase were Toronto, Hamilton and Oshawa, Ont., along with Montreal.

Prices increased the most in Hamilton (up 0.9%), followed by Windsor, Ont., and Winnipeg (both up 0.4).

StatsCan attributed Hamilton’s increase in part to builders moving to new areas with higher land development fees, while Winnipeg prices rose due to higher lumber and steel costs and in Windsor some builders reported higher operating costs.

Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, N.B., along with Ottawa_Gatineau, Calgary and Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ont., all recorded decreases of 0.1%.

Prices were unchanged in 10 of 21 metropolitan areas in August.

Year over year, the index was up 2.9% in August.