New housing price index edges up

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says its new housing price index rose 0.1 per cent in April, following no change in March.

The move higher was driven in large part by gains in Toronto, Oshawa, Ont., and Vancouver. The combined region of Toronto and Oshawa was up 0.2 per cent because of higher material and labour costs as well as market conditions.

Vancouver posted its largest gain since March 2010, climbing 0.6 per cent. On a year-over-year basis, the index was up 1.1 per cent in April, the smallest annual increase since February 2010.