Mainland Home Prices Rise Again In April

New home prices on the mainland rose at a slightly faster pace in April, adding to signs that the property market is slowly recovering as coronavirus lockdowns are eased and the economy reopens.

Average new home prices in 70 major cities rose 0.5% in April from the prior month, following a 0.1% increase in March, according to calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data.

On an annual basis, home prices picked up 5.1% in April, compared with March's 5.3% rise.

"Pent-up housing demand is being further released in April as the economy and life continue to get back on track," an official with the NBS said in a statement along with the data.

The stronger home prices are in line with recovery signs for real estate developers, who in April saw quickened investment and a narrower decline in sales.

Most of the 70 cities surveyed by the NBS reported monthly price increases for new homes, with the number rising sharply to 50 from 38 in March.

Nanjing in Jiangsu province and Tangshan in Hebei province were the top price performers last month, notching up a monthly price increase of 1.8%.

Prices were lower in Wuhan city, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, NBS data showed.

Although most regions have lifted transport curbs, property sales and buyer demand remains under pressure in some cities as authorities maintained restrictions following new clusters of infections.

Beijing has reiterated its strict stance against hot money flows into the property market, even as the economy emerges from its first contraction since at least 1992. (Reuters)