China keeps lending rates steady for 7th straight month

Business Dec 22, 2025

China's central bank just kept its main lending rates unchanged for the seventh month—one-year loans stay at 3.0%, five-year at 3.5%.
This comes after a rare rate cut back in May.

Borrowing is quietly getting cheaper

Even though official rates haven't budged since June, real-world loan costs are dropping.
In November, new business loans averaged 3.1%—about 0.3% lower than last year.
Home loan rates dipped too, making it a bit easier for people and companies to borrow.

What's next?

Looking ahead to 2026, China's planning a more supportive approach: expect slightly looser money policies and some government spending boosts.