CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts in September up from August

OTTAWA – Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reported that the annual pace of housing starts in September increased by three per cent compared to the previous month, August. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts for September reached 248,896 units, up from 242,223 in August. However, actual monthly housing starts in communities with a population of 10,000 or more declined by 11 per cent year-over-year, with 19,984 units built in September 2026 compared to 22,375 units in September 2025.

The rural housing starts were estimated at 18,094 units. Aled ab Iorwerth, deputy chief economist at CMHC, cautioned that despite this improvement, Canada still faces a significant long-term housing supply gap, and unless construction levels rise, recent gains in housing affordability since 2023 may be hard to maintain.