(Yicai Global) Nov. 15 -- New home prices in China's four first-tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen were flat in October, while secondhand home prices fell by 0.2 percent, according to the latest official data.

Thirty-one second-tier cities saw a 1 percent and 0.3 percent gain, respectively, data the National Bureau of Statistics released today shows.

Prices remained stable last month, said NBS senior statistician Liu Jianwei.

The cost of a secondhand house in first-tier cities fell 0.1 percentage points from a month earlier, with Shenzhen dropping 0.6 percent and the other three 0.2 percent.

Prices for new and second-hand homes in 31 second-tier cities fell 0.1 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively, month-on-month. New home prices in 35 third-tier cities jumped 1.1 percent, a monthly increase of 0.2 percentage points; while second-hand home prices rose 0.5 percent, down 0.3 points from a month earlier.

Two of China's 15 hotspot first- and second-tier cities experienced a monthly decline in new home prices, the same as in September, with the largest decline being 0.5 percent; 13 cities saw an increase, two more than the previous month, with the largest increase coming in at 2.5 percent.

Three cities had an annual decline, one more than the previous month, with the largest retreat being 1 percent; 12 cities enjoyed an annual increase, the same as the previous month, with 13.3 percent the largest gain.

Editor: Bivash Mukherjee