ST : China property prices surge

Dec 10, 2009
China property prices surge

Property prices in 70 medium and large cities rose 5.7 per cent in November from a year ago, the biggest jump since July 2008, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. -- PHOTO: AP

BEIJING - PROPERTY prices in Chinese cities rose at the fastest pace in 16 months in November, the government said on Thursday, amid growing concerns about bubbles building in real estate.

Property prices in 70 medium and large cities rose 5.7 per cent in November from a year ago, the biggest jump since July 2008, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

It was the sixth successive year-on-year increase, snapping a months-long slump dating from December last year when the government attempted to rein in runaway prices and as the global economic crisis kicked in.

After trying to cool the market a year ago, Beijing this year responded to the economic crisis with tax breaks and other measures to prop up the property sector, which accounts for more than 20 per cent of urban fixed investments.

But concerns are rising that bubbles are building in real estate due to rampant speculation. The house price-to-income ratio - the ratio of the median market home price and the median annual household income - is expected to hit 8.3 in China this year, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in a report on Monday. A rational range is between three and six, the think tank said.

In response to mounting public complaints about excessively high house prices, the government said this week it would curb speculative home purchases next year - possibly by restricting bank loans to the sector. -- AFP.