China’s financial sector experienced a strong start to 2026, with new social financing increasing by 7.22 trillion yuan (approximately $1.01 trillion USD) in January, according to data released by the People’s Bank of China on February 13.
This figure represents a historic high for the month of January, exceeding the previous year’s amount by 166.2 billion yuan. The robust growth in social financing signals continued support for economic stability at the beginning of the year, a key indicator for global investors monitoring China’s economic trajectory.
The People’s Bank of China also reported that the outstanding balance of RMB loans reached 276.62 trillion yuan by the end of January, representing a 6.1% year-on-year increase. New RMB loans totaled 4.71 trillion yuan in January.
A breakdown of lending activity revealed that household loans increased by 456.5 billion yuan, while corporate loans rose by 44.5 billion yuan. Notably, medium- and long-term loans to businesses increased by 31.8 billion yuan. This data suggests a continued focus on supporting business investment and long-term growth within the Chinese economy.
The positive financial data comes as China aims to maintain steady economic growth in 2026. The increase in social financing and lending activity underscores the government’s commitment to supporting the real economy through robust financial policies.
