China's property slump appears to be spreading. The latest numbers show that new home prices in February fell in nearly 85 percent of the country's major cities.

The National Bureau of Statistics says prices fell in 59 out of 70 large metropolises. That is up by three from January.

Another three reported new home prices were unchanged, while eight said prices rose.

China's government has pumped additional financial support into the real estate industry. The central bank in February also cut a benchmark interest rate for home loans.

The months ahead will show whether those measures are enough to reverse the sharp and worsening downturn in the country's property market.