The prices of new homes in Canada edged up 0.1% in January from December, the 10th consecutive monthly increase, on strength in two major western cities, Statistics Canada said on Thursday.
The rise matched analysts' expectations. Compared with a year earlier the index was up 2.4%, slightly down from the 2.5% year-on-year growth noted in December 2011.
The metropolitan regions of Calgary in Alberta and Vancouver in British Columbia both posted 0.3% advances over December. The largest region, Toronto and Oshawa, was flat.
The most significant monthly price decline was the 0.8% seen in Victoria, as builders cut prices to stimulate sales in a slow market.
Overall, prices were up in eight regions in January, held steady in nine, and dropped in four.
