HOUSING STARTS IN SASKATCHEWAN - CITIES ON THE RISE

Saskatchewan Leading the Nation in the First Two Months of 2010

Statistics on urban housing starts for February 2010 were released today and show a remarkable improvement from last year.

There were 211 urban housing starts last month, up from 89 in February last year (seasonally unadjusted), an increase of 137 per cent. Saskatchewan had the second highest percentage change among Canadian provinces.

Urban housing starts were up by 199 per cent in the first two months of 2010 to 485 units, compared with 162 units in the first two months of 2009. Saskatchewan had the highest percentage increase in the nation in this time period.

In Saskatoon, housing starts were up by a whopping 405 per cent in the first two months of 2010 compared to the same period last year - from 57 to 288 starts. Housing starts in Regina were up 112 per cent from 77 to 163 in the same period.

"In the first two months of 2010 we have seen a remarkable turnaround in housing construction activity," Enterprise Saskatchewan Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. "The percentage increase so far this year is the best in Canada, and signals that Saskatchewan may be well ahead of other provinces in terms of economic recovery."

Single family home construction in February 2010 totalled 129 units, up from 83 units in February 2009. Multiple units were up 1,267 per cent from six to 82 units during the same time period, February over February.

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For more information, contact:

Rebecca Rogoschewsky
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0980
Cell: 306-529-1601