2026.03.2001:00:00UTC+00China Holds 5-Year Loan Prime Rate at 3.50% in March, Extending Policy Steadiness

China left its 5-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) unchanged at 3.50% in March 2026, maintaining the same level set in February 2026. The decision underscores a continued stance of policy stability in Beijing’s benchmark for long-term lending, closely watched as a reference for mortgage and corporate borrowing costs.

The steady reading suggests that, at least for now, authorities are refraining from further easing via the key 5-year rate, despite ongoing attention to growth and credit conditions. With the 5-year LPR holding at 3.50%, banks and borrowers see no immediate change in longer-term financing benchmarks heading into the second quarter.

The latest update was recorded on 20 March 2026, confirming the unchanged status of the 5-year LPR for a second consecutive month and providing markets with a clearer signal that China’s rate environment remains on a stable footing in the near term.