Prince George, B.C. – Housing starts in British Columbia’s urban areas were trending at27,077 units in January 2014 compared to 28,005 in December 2013, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of housing starts.

“The trend level of housing starts edged lower in January,” said Carol Frketich, CMHC’s Regional Economist for British Columbia. "The trend levels of single-detached, semi-detached and row housing starts edged higher in January compared to December, while apartment housing starts trended lower."

The standalone monthly SAAR was 25,591 units in January, compared to 30,779 units in December.

In Prince George there were seven actual single-detached housing starts in January, the same as in January 2013.  There were no multiple unit starts in January of either year.