Interested in learning about foreign direct investment in the U.S. advertising industry? Or in U.S. direct investment in Vietnam? The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its most detailed statistics on U.S. direct investment abroad—or “outward direct investment”—and on foreign direct investment in the United States—or “inward direct investment”. These statistics cover direct investment positions at historical cost (book value) and related financial and income flows.
These statistics provide comprehensive data on direct investment by country and by industry. For outward investment, the statistics provide information for all countries and industries in which U.S. companies have invested directly and are classified by the country and industry of the foreign affiliate.
For inward investment, the statistics provide information for all countries from which there is direct investment. These statistics are classified by the country of the foreign parent—that is, the country of the investor with a direct investment in the U.S. affiliate. Statistics on inward investment classified by the country of the investor who ultimately controls the investment, called the ultimate beneficial owner are also available.
In addition, the statistics provide data on all industries in which there is inward investment, classified by the industry of the U.S. affiliate. By providing this additional detail, these statistics enhance the international transactions accounts and international investment position statistics released in June 2013.
For 2009–2012, the statistics reflect the incorporation of new or revised data from BEA’s quarterly surveys of transactions between parents (both U.S. and foreign) and their affiliates, along with annual surveys of financial and operating data for U.S. parent companies and their foreign affiliates and for U.S. affiliates of foreign companies. The U.S. direct investment abroad series also includes the incorporation of the 2009 benchmark survey of U.S. parent companies and their foreign affiliates.
An upcoming article in the September Survey of Current Business will present these statistics as well as additional statistics, such as reinvestment ratios, rates of return, and position and income data for outward investment classified by the industry of the U.S. parent.