Affordable-Housing Delays Threaten China's Economy

BEIJING—China acknowledged it was falling behind schedule on ambitious plans to build low-income housing, a delay that could add to concerns around its economy.

The low-income housing push is crucial, not only as a way to help ordinary Chinese buy homes, but to provide an economic cushion at a time when signs of a real-estate downturn are emerging. Prices of new apartments and the volume of construction have begun to fall in some cities. A big spurt in low-income housing construction has been seen by the government and markets as important to reduce the depth of a real-estate downturn in ...

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