Condos Drive Fastest Surge in Canadian Housing Starts Since 2007

  • Multiple-unit starts increased by 30 percent in March
  • Central bank may downplay strength at rate decision Wednesday

Condos stand in Toronto.

Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg
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Canadian housing starts surged to the fastest pace in a decade, led by apartments and condominiums.

Housing starts soared 18 percent to an annualized 253,720 units in March, from 214,253 units in February, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. said in a statement Monday from Ottawa. Multiple-unit starts in urban areas surged 30 percent to 160,989 units.