SmartHomeOwners

OTTAWA: The New Housing Price Index rose 0.3 per cent in March after a 0.1 per cent increase in February.

The index has been advancing since last July.

Statistics Canada reports prices rose the most in London, Ont., (1.7 per cent) between February and March, followed by Montreal and Kitchener, Ont. (both up one per cent).

With a 0.5 per cent drop, Charlottetown registered the largest monthly decline in March, followed by Hamilton, Ont., and Edmonton (both down 0.3).

Year over year, the index was up 1.6 per cent in March, following a 0.9 per cent increase in February.

The largest year-over-year rise was recorded in St. John's, N.L. (up 5.1 per cent), followed by Winnipeg (4.5%) and Vancouver (4.3).

Among the 21 metropolitan regions, three registered 12-month declines in March: Victoria (down 4.6 per cent), Edmonton (2.4) and Charlottetown (1.2).