Seoul apartment sale transaction prices rose 1.93% in July from the previous month and 14.56% from a year earlier, according to data analyzed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government from Korea Real Estate Board statistics. The southeastern area, covering Seocho, Gangnam, Songpa and Gangdong, recorded the strongest monthly increase at 2.73%, while ultra-small apartments of 40㎡ or less posted the largest increase by size at 3.05%. August sales transactions stood at 3,143 cases as of Aug. 15, down 46.2% from July; even with contracts reportable through the end of September, the transaction growth trend appears to have slowed. Jeonse (long-term lease) prices rose 0.5% in July, while August jeonse and monthly-rent transaction volumes fell 18% and 20.7%, respectively. Jeonse renewals accounted for 58.9% of contracts, while contracts using the renewal request right fell to 48.7%.