China’s property prices rose at a record pace in March, indicating government efforts to stem gains aren’t working and more drastic measures may be needed amid concern of a bubble in the nation’s housing market.

Residential and commercial real-estate prices in 70 cities climbed 11.7% from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said on its Web site. The data goes back to 2005.

China has raised mortgage rates and re-imposed a sales tax on homes in the first two months of the year to reduce the risk of asset bubbles. The government announced in March developers will have to pay a higher deposit for land purchases and banned banks from lending to builders found to be hoarding land or holding back home sales in anticipation of higher prices.

bloomberg.com, South China Morning Post