Boosted by an increase in demand and lower prices, sales of newly built residential property in major Chinese cities are expected to rise in May, the Securities Daily reported on May 31.

Sales grew in the three consecutive months before May.

Centaline China Property Research's monitoring data of 30 key cities showed that in May, sales of newly built residential property grew 28 percent year-on-year, a 20 percent increase compared to a month earlier.

As sales increased, the number of major property developers slashing their housing prices has decreased. Small local property developers are also following the price reduction trend, though the range of price reduction is minor, the Securities Daily reported.

Despite the increase in sales of newly built property, overall sales in the past five months have dropped year-on-year. This has dampened developers' willingness to launch new projects. The second quarter may see a drop in floor space of newly started projects and new investment amounts, Centaline China Property Research forecasted.