Housing prices

HOME prices in 100 Chinese cities continued to increase in September, but at a slower pace, as the country maintained tight regulations to curb speculation in the property market.

Average new home prices rose 3.56 percent year on year in September, with the pace of increase decelerating 0.12 percentage points from August, according to a survey released by the China Index Academy, a property research institution. On a month-on-month basis, the average new home price edged up 0.31 percent, down from a 0.37 percent increase in August.

Auto sales fall

AUTO sales in China fell for a 15th consecutive month in September, with the number of new energy vehicles sold contracting for the third month in a row, data from the country’s biggest auto industry association showed yesterday.

Total auto sales fell 5.2 percent from the same month a year earlier, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said yesterday. That followed declines of 6.9 percent in August and 4.3 percent in July. Sales of new energy vehicles fell 34.2 percent in September, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said, following a 15.8 percent decline in August.

Coal imports slip

CHINA’S coal imports in September dropped 8.1 percent from a month earlier, as traders held up purchases amid an increase in domestic supply and slowing demand for the fuel from power generation companies.

Arrivals of coal, including thermal and coking coal, last month were 30.29 million tons, data released by the General Administration of Customs showed yesterday. Shipments stood at 32.95 million tons in August.