China Tells Lenders to Pour Money Into Car and Consumer Credit

China’s top financial regulator urged lenders to dramatically expand lending to a broad swath of businesses, help consumers buy more cars and create consumer credit products to help new college graduates.

China’s economy is mired in a sustained real estate slump with weak growth and lagging consumption. The financial regulator’s sweeping call for more lending to consumers and a laundry list of industries and businesses large and small is part of the government’s ongoing effort to spur the economy.