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Michael Pettis: Over 10 percent of Chinese adults behind on debt payments in 2025

Michael Pettis: Over 10 percent of Chinese adults behind on debt payments in 2025
Over 10 percent Chinese adults behind on debts

Michael Pettis, economist, professor of finance at Peking University and nonresident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discusses new data indicating that as much as 10.6 percent of China's 1.1 billion adult population were behind on debt payments at the end of 2025.

He comments that this trend is not surprising, noting ongoing pressure on Chinese banks to increase consumer lending.

Pettis previously highlighted concerns about hidden bad debt in China's banking sector as investors reviewed the fallout from the Huaxia Bank case. He has also noted a widespread consensus among economic policy advisors on the urgency for China to rebalance its economy, according to a separate analysis. Both issues remain under discussion as new data on consumer debt emerges.

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