The Canadian housing market showed some signs of life in August, with sales rising 1.3 per cent from the prior month, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Monthly home sales rose 39,073 on a seasonally adjusted basis, the highest level of activity since January, the brokerage association said in a statement. Transactions are still below historical averages.

Benchmark prices, which are down 4.2 per cent from a year ago, were little changed during the month.

Strong sales in Alberta and Saskatchewan, along with smaller cities in Ontario like Ottawa, offset weak numbers in Toronto and Montreal.