Two of China's largest private property data providers have suspended publishing monthly home sales figures at the instruction of the housing bureau, reported Bloomberg.

China Real Estate Information Corp and China Index Academy did not release November sales data covering the 100 biggest developers.

The agencies, which normally publish the figures at the end of each month, were told to halt public disclosure until further notice, according to people familiar with the matter.

Financial institutions that purchase the data will continue to receive it, but only under confidentiality agreements, one source said.

Hong Kong's China Economic Review noted the withheld figures are a key measure of the new-home market, usually released weeks before official statistics. The suspension, combined with Vanke's move to delay repayment on a local bond, is expected to deepen pessimism in the sector.

The publication added that transparency remains a persistent issue. When data is withheld, many assume conditions are worse than reported. With property still central to China's economy and other growth areas not yet sufficient to offset its decline, the downward trend in the real estate market shows no sign of ending.