March 29, 2017

The U.S. net international investment position decreased to −$8,109.7 billion (preliminary) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016 from −$7,807.3 billion (revised) at the end of the third quarter.

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  • The net investment position decreased $302.3 billion or 3.9 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 2.7 percent in the third quarter and an average quarterly decrease of 6.0 percent from the first quarter of 2011 through the second quarter of 2016.
  • U.S. assets decreased $954.8 billion to $23,916.7 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, reflecting a $566.1 billion decrease in financial derivatives and a $388.7 billion decrease in assets excluding financial derivatives. The decrease in assets excluding financial derivatives mostly reflected decreases in portfolio investment and other investment assets.
  • U.S. liabilities decreased $652.5 billion to $32,026.3 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, reflecting a $572.2 billion decrease in financial derivatives and an $80.3 billion decrease in liabilities excluding financial derivatives. The decrease in liabilities excluding financial derivatives reflected decreases in portfolio investment and other investment liabilities that were partly offset by an increase in direct investment liabilities.

For more information, read the full report.