(Yicai Global) April 17 -- China's commercial property sales were down 24.7 percent annually to just over CNY2 trillion (USD280 billion) during the first three months, per figures the National Bureau of Statistics released today.

The property sales area was 220 million square meters, down 26.3 percent.

This represents an improvement, however, as sales were down 35.9 percent and 39.9 percent in area during the first two months, respectively.

Editor: Ben Armour