Province
New home prices going up Percentage change, June 2006 over June 2005
OTTAWA — The cost of buying a new home went up again in June.
Statistics Canada says new house prices rose sharply in the month with Alberta once again showing the strongest gains.
The agency says the cost of new housing was up across the country by 1.4 per cent from May, but compared with a year earlier, contractors asked 9.8 per cent more in June.
Statistics Canada cited continuing strong consumer demand, rising construction material and labour costs for the increases.
Prices were up in 15 of 21 metropolitan areas surveyed.
Calgary continued to lead the way with a monthly increase of 6.9 per cent, followed by Edmonton at 4.7 per cent, Saskatoon at 1.6 per cent and Regina at 1.2 per cent.
© The Vancouver Province 2006