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Changes in Definitions and Classifications in the U.S. International Accounts

Several changes in definitions and classifications were made in the U.S. international transactions accounts (ITAs) with the release of statistics on June 16, 2011. Most of the changes result from a multiyear effort to modernize and enhance BEA's international economic accounts in order to more closely align the accounts with international guidelines. An article describing this effort is available on BEA's Web site. The changes made this June are summarized below and are described in more detail in the article.

  • Reclassification within services of cruise fares from passenger fares (ITA table 1, lines 7 and 24) to travel (ITA table 1, lines 6 and 23) beginning with statistics for 1999. This change aligns the treatment of cruise fares with that of similar expenditures related to land travel.
  • Reclassification within services of the distribution rights for film and television recordings from “other” private services to royalties and license fees beginning with statistics for 1999. Charges for the right to distribute film and television recordings were previously classified in “other” private services (ITA table 1, lines 10 and 27). The distribution rights related to film and television recordings are now classified under royalties and license fees (ITA table 1, lines 9 and 26).
  • Reclassification of postal services from U.S. government miscellaneous services (ITA table 1, lines 11 and 28) to “other” transportation (ITA table 1, lines 8 and 25) beginning with statistics for 1999. This change is consistent with the classification of government services transactions according to the type of service performed.
  • Exclusion of expenditures of foreign nationals working at international organizations in the United States from “other” private services (ITA table 1, line 10), and inclusion of their earnings in compensation of employees (ITA table 1, line 17), beginning with statistics for 1999. Foreign nationals living in the United States and employed by international organizations located in the United States were previously treated as foreign residents in the ITAs; therefore, their purchases of goods and services were included in U.S. exports of services. Under international guidelines, these foreign nationals are treated as U.S. residents. As a result, their purchases are no longer treated as exports and their compensation is included because international organizations are considered nonresident entities regardless of their location.
  • Change in the recording of U.S. government income on holdings of special drawing rights (SDRs) from a net basis to a gross basis beginning with statistics for 2003. Income flows associated with U.S. government holdings and allocations of SDRs were previously included in “U.S. government receipts” (ITA table 1, line 16) on a net basis; that is, the amount recorded equaled interest receipts on SDR holdings net of interest payments on SDR allocations. Interest receipts are now recorded in “U.S. government receipts,” and interest payments are now recorded in “U.S. government payments” (ITA table 1, line 33).

The statistics released this June are also updated and revised to reflect newly available source data and other improvements. The July Survey of Current Business will contain tables and an article describing revisions to the ITAs.

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