Direct Answer
China economic indicators are published mainly by the National Bureau of Statistics, the People's Bank of China and the General Administration of Customs. The releases followed most closely are CPI and PPI around the 9th to 14th, the activity data and quarterly GDP in mid-month, the PMI at month-end, and the loan prime rate on the 20th. Most series are monthly, and GDP is quarterly.
China Economic Indicators: Investor Reference
This hub covers the major economic indicators released for this country. Each linked indicator page explains what the measure tracks, how it is calculated, when it is released, and how investors interpret changes in the data.
See the international indicators hub for other countries, or the full economic indicators hub for all 15 categories.
Who publishes China's economic data?
The National Bureau of Statistics publishes GDP, CPI, PPI, industrial production, retail sales, fixed asset investment, urban unemployment and the manufacturing PMI. The People's Bank of China publishes the loan prime rate, M2 and total social financing. The General Administration of Customs publishes the trade balance. The 2026 NBS calendar places CPI and PPI between the 9th and 14th, activity data between the 15th and 19th, the PMI on the last day of the month and industrial economic benefits near the 27th, with dates preliminary and subject to adjustment.
China indicators at a glance
| Indicator | What it measures | Published by | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| China CPI | consumer price inflation in China | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Monthly |
| China Fixed Asset Investment | investment in fixed assets such as property, infrastructure and factories in China | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Monthly |
| China GDP | real economic output growth in China | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Quarterly |
| China Industrial Production | the real output of Chinese industry above a designated size | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Monthly |
| China Loan Prime Rate | the benchmark price of new bank loans in China | People's Bank of China | Monthly |
| China M2 | the broad money supply in China | People's Bank of China | Monthly |
| China Manufacturing PMI | manufacturing activity in China from a monthly business survey | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Monthly |
| China PPI | factory-gate price changes for Chinese industrial products | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Monthly |
| China Retail Sales | consumer spending at retail businesses in China | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Monthly |
| China Total Social Financing | total financing raised by the real economy in China | People's Bank of China | Monthly |
| China Trade Balance | the gap between China's goods exports and imports | General Administration of Customs of China | Monthly |
| China Urban Unemployment | the share of the urban labour force without work in China | National Bureau of Statistics of China | Monthly |
Each row comes from the same source file as the indicator page it links, so the publisher and frequency here match that page.
How does China's central bank set policy?
The People's Bank of China states that the objective of monetary policy is to maintain the stability of the value of the currency and thereby promote economic growth. In 2024 it designated the 7-day reverse repo rate in open market operations as the primary policy rate. The loan prime rate is calculated from quotes by 20 banks that add a few basis points to the open market operations rate, and it is published at 9:00 a.m. on the 20th of each month. The Monetary Policy Committee is a consultative body that holds regular quarterly meetings.
What is different about China's data?
- The PMI describes the current month and is scheduled at 9:30 on the last day of the month, while most other NBS releases report the previous month, previous quarter or cumulative totals. In 2026 the February PMI is scheduled for March 4 because of the Spring Festival.
- Activity data such as industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment are often quoted both for the single month and as a year-to-date total. The 2026 calendar notes that January figures are not released in February, so the first activity release of the year arrives in March.
- The NBS calls its first quarterly GDP figure a preliminary accounting result and publishes it in January, April, July and October, with year-on-year growth rates in one table and quarter-on-quarter growth rates in another. Read which of the two a quoted figure refers to.
- The loan prime rate is a quote-based benchmark, not a board vote: banks quote a margin over the open market operations rate, and the National Interbank Funding Center averages the quotes after dropping the highest and lowest and rounds to the nearest 0.05%.
- Trade data come from customs, which publishes monthly tables in both US dollars and yuan, while the NBS national economic performance release quotes trade in yuan. Growth rates for the same month can therefore differ depending on the currency used.
Which China releases should you read first?
Start with the PMI at month-end for an early read on activity, then CPI and PPI around the 9th to 14th for consumer and factory-gate prices, then the mid-month activity release (industrial production, retail sales, fixed asset investment, unemployment). The loan prime rate on the 20th shows where the benchmark for bank lending sits. This is a reading order, not a trading recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does China release CPI and GDP data?
In the National Bureau of Statistics 2026 calendar, CPI and PPI are scheduled between the 9th and 14th of each month, and quarterly GDP is released in mid-January, April, July and October. The calendar states that the dates are preliminary and subject to adjustment.
How often does China publish the loan prime rate?
Monthly. Quoting banks submit quotes before 9:00 a.m. on the 20th, postponed if that day is a holiday, and the rate is published at 9:00 a.m. the same day. It has two maturities, one year and over five years.
What is China's main policy interest rate?
In 2024 the People's Bank of China designated the 7-day reverse repo rate in open market operations as its primary policy rate. The loan prime rate, the pricing reference for bank lending, is quoted by 20 banks as a margin over the open market operations rate.