Growth in Shanghai property prices eased in 2005 following the introduction of measures to avert a property bubble, the South China Morning Post reported. Shanghai Statistical Bureau figures released Wednesday showed prices for all types of real estate rose 9.7% year-on-year last year, slowing from 15.9% growth in 2004. City authorities last year introduced a series of measures to dampen property speculation, including a 5.5% capital gains tax on properties sold within one year of purchase, a sales tax on homes sold within two years of purchase, tighter bank lending and tax penalties on developers holding idle land. Property investment rose 6.1% to about US$15.5 billion last year, down from more than 30% growth in 2004.