In 2012, the GDP of Xi'an was RMB436.937 billion, increasing by 11.8%; the general budget revenue of local finance was RMB39.696 billion, increasing by 24.6%. The growth speed ranked first among the 15 sub-provincial cities. In the whole year, 402 municipal-level key projects were started with a gross investment of RMB145.67 billion. The amount of constructed projects and investment scale hit a record high. Total investment in fixed assets of RMB424.343 billion was completed, increasing by 26.6%. Civil investment therein accounted for more than 50%, which became the new engine of economic growth. In the whole year, the new bank loans were RMB110.78 billion, and the total amount of social financing exceeded RMB200 billion. There were 26,500 new private business entities and 82,600 accumulated private business entities. Non-public economic value added was RMB224.575 billion, accounting for 51.4% of GDP.

In 2012, Xi'an actually applied foreign capital of USD2.48 billion and introduced domestic capital of RMB120.12 billion, increasing by 23.6% and 17.3% respectively. 9 new Fortune Global 500 and Fortune China 500 companies were set up. The total volume of foreign trade was USD13.01 billion, the amount of service outsourcing contracts was USD550 million, and the turnover of projects contracted overseas was USD1.75 billion, increasing by 3.3%, 40.4%, and 28.8%, respectively. Xi'an successfully held international conventions and activities including the Third International DNA and Genome Week, and the Seventh China International Software Service Outsourcing Convention. 160 exhibitions and activities held on a specified scale and above were held. Xi'an was given the title of one of "China's Top 10 Brand Exhibition Cities in 2012."

Xi'an makes efforts to construct an international metropolis in line with the development concept of "Cultural Xi'an, Vigorous Xi'an, and Harmonious Xi'an."