China's commercial housing price per meter was at an average of 2226 yuan last year, up 3.3 percent over the year before. Against an average price of 2068 yuan for per meter residential housing, office and commercial buildings were at an average of 3375 yuan and 4419 yuan respectively.

The report indicates that rebound had been brought on the real estates market last year from further carrying out of related policies on real estates and impacts of China's WTO entry and market demand. Investment and capital accumulation also increased; commercial housing sale grew steadily.

Statistics show that from January to December last year capital had been at an accumulated total of 737.8 billion yuan, up 29.8 percent. Investment in real estates took 22.4 percent of fixed asset investment, next only to infrastructure. A total of 624.5 billion yuan of investment in real estates was achieved last year, a rise of 25 percent over the year before.

In the second half of last year, commercial housing had an increased floor space completed. Against a decreased floor space, absolute idle floor space had been up to over 11 million square meters to show a 10.5 percent increase.

(eastday.com March 7, 2002)