Average new home prices in China’s 70 major cities fell 1.4% in August from a year earlier. A sixth straight month of year -on-year decline.

In month-on-month terms, prices rose for the second successive month, up 0.1 % in August, after July’s 0.1% rise. They had fallen for eight straight months from October through May.

Recent interest rate cuts have changed market sentiment and fueled expectations of rising prices.