New starts, a leading indicator of real estate investment, snapped a nine-month growth streak last month, falling 4.9 per cent from a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations. China 's housing market is showing signs of cooling , with home sales last week increasing by the smallest amount in two years as regulators look to rein in price growth . The value of new home sales in July rose 4.3 % , to CNY779bn ( $ 117bn ) , according to a Bloomberg calculation based on National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) figures . The data marked the smallest rise since March 2015 , when policies to encourage speculation from investors were introduced . Real estate investment is now predicted to slow at a " gradual pace " , according to NBS spokesman Mao Shengyong , who added that speculation had been encouraged .
China 's housing market is showing signs of cooling , with home sales last week increasing by the smallest amount in two years as regulators look to rein in price growth . The value of new home sales in July rose 4.3 % , to CNY779bn ( $ 117bn ) , according to a Bloomberg calculation based on National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) figures . The data marked the smallest rise since March 2015 , when policies to encourage speculation from investors were introduced . Real estate investment is now predicted to slow at a " gradual pace " , according to NBS spokesman Mao Shengyong , who added that speculation had been encouraged .