(Yicai Global) July 16 -- China's new property sales were down 5.4 percent annually to CNY6.69 trillion (USD960 billion) in the first half as the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on market confidence, especially in the early part of the year, data the National Bureau of Statistics released today show.

The downward move is a vast improvement from a 24.7 percent drop during the first three months, when the pestilence was at its height.

Sales of residential properties slipped 2.8 percent in the first half, while office building turnover slid 28 percent, and commercial space also flopped 25.5 percent.

Total sales, measured by floor area, fell 8.4 percent in the first half from the year before, also an improvement, though, from a 26.3 percent drop during the first quarter.

Editor: Ben Armour