Year-to-date total still up compared with last year: CMHC
Stronger activity in Montreal and Toronto contributes to 14% rise from August
Urban housing starts decline from July while rural pace holds steady
Ontario, Nova Scotia, Montreal face biggest housing shortfalls
As population growth remains robust, the size of households is rising too
Seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 223,808 units in September, up from 213,012 in August
Other economic factors, government policies offset the effect of higher rates
The drop came as the annual pace of urban starts fell 24% from July
Elevated interest rates, inflation have also increased the cost to finance projects
Actual housing starts were markedly lower in two of Canada's three major cities compared with June 2023