Net worth increases to $202,000

Statistics Canada says the country's national net worth increased to $7.1 trillion or $202,000 per person in the first quarter, up 2.1 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2012.

The agency says this compares with a 1.1 rise in the previous quarter and represents the largest increase in a year.

It says the advance was led by higher asset prices, primarily real estate, while national saving accounted for 3.0 per cent of the increase.

Household net worth rose 1.9 per cent in the first quarter, led by gains in the value of equity holdings and pension assets.

The value of household real estate increased by 0.9 per cent in the quarter, reflecting strength in real estate values.