The International Investment Position of the United States at Yearend 2011

摘要

THE NET international investment position of the United States was -$4,030.3 billion (preliminary) at yearend 2011, compared with -$2,473.6 billion (revised) at yearend 2010 (chart 1, table 1). At yearend 2011, the value of foreign-owned assets in the United States exceeded the value of U.S.-owned assets abroad more than at yearend 2010. The -$1,556.7 billion change in the U.S. net international investment position from yearend 2010 to yearend 2011 was mainly attributable to net price changes of -$802.1 billion and net financial flows of -$556.3 billion. The impact of changes in U.S. and foreign asset prices of -$802.1 billion accounted for over half of the -$1.6 trillion change in the U.S. net international investment position. In 2011, increases in the prices of U.S. Treasury bonds and other U.S. debt raised the value of foreign investment in the United States, and declines in foreign stock prices lowered the value of U.S. investment abroad. U.S. stock prices were virtually unchanged.