Prices for new homes fell 0.5 per cent in March from the previous month, led by declines in Western Canada, Statistics Canada said Monday.


The biggest declines were in Calgary and Edmonton, with prices falling 1.2 per cent in both cities. Vancouver saw a 1.1 per cent decline and Victoria was down 0.9 per cent, the federal agency said.


"In Calgary and Edmonton, declines were attributed to lower material and labour costs and lower lot prices from developers," it said. "In Vancouver and Victoria, builders reported lower prices due to competition and slow market conditions."


Prices also declined in St. Catharines—Niagara, Ont., down 0.9 per cent, Saskatoon, off -0.7 per cent, Charlottetown, down 0.4 per cent, Toronto, down 0.3 per cent and Hamilton, Ont., off 0.2 per cent.


Meanwhile, prices rose in St. John's, N.L., which posted a 0.4-per-cent increase. Montreal prices were up 0.3 per cent and Quebec gained 0.1 per cent.