Investment in Fixed Assets

Expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled $148.8 billion in 2023, down $57.4 billion, or 28 percent, from $206.2 billion in 2022. 

The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$21.28 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2024, according to statistics released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Assets totaled $35.78 trillion, and liabilities were $57.06 trillion. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, the net investment position was –$19.85 trillion (revised). 

The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$18.16 trillion at the end of the third quarter of 2023, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Assets totaled $32.91 trillion, and liabilities were $51.07 trillion. At the end of the second quarter, the net investment position was –$18.14 trillion (revised).

The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$18.00 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2023, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Assets totaled $33.58 trillion, and liabilities were $51.58 trillion. At the end of the first quarter, the net investment position was –$16.74 trillion (revised).

The U.S. direct investment abroad position, or cumulative level of investment, increased $403.3 billion to $6.49 trillion at the end of 2021 from $6.09 trillion at the end of 2020, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The increase reflected a $352.6 billion increase in the position in Europe, primarily in Ireland and the United Kingdom. By industry, holding company affiliates owned by U.S. manufacturers had the largest increase.

Expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled $333.6 billion in 2021, up $192.2 billion from $141.4 billion in 2020.

The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$17.75 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2022, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Assets totaled $34.00 trillion, and liabilities were $51.75 trillion. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, the net investment position was –$18.12 trillion.

The U.S. direct investment abroad position, or cumulative level of investment, increased $244.9 billion to $6.15 trillion at the end of 2020 from $5.91 trillion at the end of 2019, according to statistics released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The increase reflected a $158.8 billion increase in the position in Europe, primarily in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. By industry, holding company affiliates owned by U.S. manufacturers had the largest increase.

Expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled $120.7 billion in 2020, down 45.4 percent from $221.2 billion in 2019.

The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$14.01 trillion at the end of 2020, according to statistics released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Assets totaled $32.26 trillion and liabilities were $46.27 trillion. At the end of 2019, the net investment position was –$11.23 trillion.