Central Institute: The average rent for residential properties in 50 cities will see a significant decrease in the first half of 2026, with the decline in prime cities narrowing.

According to the Smart Finance and Economics APP, a report from China Index Research Institute stated that in the first half of 2026, the rental housing market in key cities has gradually shifted from a general decline to a trend of "differentiation and recovery". The average rent for housing in 50 cities has accumulated a decrease of 0.56%, a decrease of 0.83 percentage points from the same period last year. First-tier cities have stabilized first, with Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing seeing a consecutive increase in rents for 4 months. In terms of corporate development, the top 30 enterprises have increased their business properties by 30,000 units in the first five months. Real estate enterprises are contracting, while local state-owned enterprises are continuously increasing their market share.