China’s home prices fell for a fourth consecutive month in December, as the credit crunch in the property sector showed little sign of easing. New home prices in 70 cities, excluding state-subsidized housing, slid 0.28% last month from November when they dropped 0.33%, National Bureau of Statistics figures showed Saturday. A liquidity crisis at industry giant China Evergrande Group is spreading to competitors including Shimao Group Holdings Ltd. and Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. Falling prices may dissuade homebuyers concerned about the value of their assets, making it harder for developers to sell properties and generate much needed cash. Recent moves by authorities to ease some of the restrictions on real estate funding have done little to boost the market. Home loan demand stayed weak in December, with households’ mid- and long-term loans, a proxy for mortgages, increasing the least since February 2020. Year-end sales campaigns by developers […]