Business · Economy · 17 hrs ago
China’s latest property stimulus has not lifted lower-tier cities
Beijing’s latest property stimulus has not stopped the downturn in home sales and prices in mainland China’s lower-tier cities.
The focus is on third- and fourth-tier cities, where the housing market remains weak.
In October, new-home prices in those cities were down 2 per cent from a year earlier.
Prices of lived-in homes fell 6.5 per cent over the same period.
The declines came after measures began in late August to boost the market.
The weak results could prompt top regulators to consider stronger incentives to revive the housing market.
Beijing’s latest property stimulus has not stopped falling home transactions and prices in mainland China’s lower-tier cities.
In October, new-home prices in third- and fourth-tier cities fell 2 per cent year on year.
Prices of lived-in residential units in those cities fell 6.5 per cent year on year.
The declines followed market-boosting measures introduced from late August.
The weak market could prompt top regulators to introduce stronger incentives.
- Who
- Beijing and top regulators, alongside property markets in lower-tier cities.
- What
- The latest property stimulus has not stopped falling transactions and prices.
- When
- The measures began in late August; price data is for October. The article was published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Mainland China’s third- and fourth-tier cities.
- Why
- The market remains weak despite measures intended to boost it.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Market-boosting measures began to be put in place.
New-home prices in third- and fourth-tier cities fell 2 per cent year on year, while lived-in residential prices fell 6.5 per cent.
SCMP published its report on the stimulus measures’ limited effect in lower-tier cities.
- New-home prices
- Down 2 per cent year on year in October
- Lived-in residential prices
- Down 6.5 per cent year on year in October
- Cities covered
- Third- and fourth-tier cities in mainland China
- Measures began
- Late August