Backgrounder: China's house price rises in 70 major cities in 2009

BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's soaring housing prices in the second half of 2009 have aroused increasing fears of a property bubble. The government has rolled out a series of measures to restrain the upsurging prices.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday, the average housing prices of 70 Chinese major cities had kept rising on a monthly basis from March to December 2009.

From June, house prices in 70 major cities began to increase year on year, and the rate was in acceleration. Detailed price changes are as follows:

In March, the housing prices dropped 1.3 percent year on year, but rose 0.2 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly-built houses were down 1.9 percent year on year, but up 0.1 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were down 0.4percent year on year, while up 0.3 percent month on month.

In April, the housing prices dropped 1.1 percent year on year, but rose 0.4 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses were down 1.7 percent year on year, but up 0.3 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses remained the same as the year before, while went up 0.8 percent month on month.

In May the housing prices dropped 0.6 percent year on year, but rose 0.6 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses were down 1.3 percent year on year, but up 0.7 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were up 0.9 percent year on year, and up 0.7 percent month on month.

In June the housing prices grew 0.2 percent year on year, and rose 0.8 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses were down 0.6 percent year on year, but up 0.8 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were up 2.2 percent year on year, and up 1.1 percent month on month.

In July the housing prices grew 1 percent year on year, and rose 0.9 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses were up 0.3 percent year on year, and up 1.1 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were up 3.0 percent year on year, and up 0.9 percent month on month.

In August the housing prices grew 2 percent year on year, and rose 0.9 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses were up 1.5 percent year on year, and up 1.1 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were up 3.6 percent year on year, and up 0.6 percent month on month.

In September the housing prices grew 2.8 percent year on year, and rose 0.7 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses were up 2.7 percent year on year, and up 0.8 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were up 3.8 percent year on year, and up 0.5 percent month on month.

In October the housing prices grew 3.9 percent year on year, and grew 0.7 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses were up 4.0 percent year on year, and up 0.9 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were up 4.6 percent year on year, and up 0.4 percent month on month.

In November the housing prices climbed 5.7 percent year on year, and rose 1.2 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses soared 6.2 percent year on year, and up 1.5 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses were up 5.5 percent year on year, and up 0.6 percent month on month.

In December the housing prices climbed 7.8 percent year on year, and up 1.5 percent on a month-to-month basis. Prices of newly built houses rocketed 9.1 percent year on year, and up 1.9 percent month on month. Prices of second hand houses went up 6.8 percent year on year, up 1 percent month on month.

The NBS did not provide statistics for January and February last year.