Statistics Canada's new housing price index rose 0.4 per cent in December, the same increase as reported in November.

Prices were up by 0.8 per cent in Ottawa-Gatineau, the greatest increase in the country. That was followed by 0.7 per cent gains in St. John's, Toronto, Oshawa, Ont., and Vancouver.

Of the 21 metropolitan areas surveyed, only Calgary and Victoria recorded decreases in new housing prices. Both decreased by 0.2 per cent, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

Year over year, the new housing price index was down 0.9 per cent in December, compared with a 1.4 per cent decline registered in November.

Most of the largest declines came in Western Canada. New home prices in Edmonton declined by 9.1 per cent in the 12 months up to the end of December. In Victoria, prices declined by 8.2 per cent over the same period.

The largest year-over-year increase was in Quebec City, at 6.9 per cent.