March 31, 2016

The U.S. net international investment position was -$7,356.8 billion (preliminary) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015 as the value of U.S. liabilities exceeded the value of U.S. assets. At the end of the third quarter, the net position was -$7,311.6 billion (revised).

  • The U.S. net investment position decreased 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with a decrease of 8.4 percent in the third quarter and an average quarterly decrease of 6.3 percent from the first quarter of 2011 through the second quarter of 2015.
  • U.S. assets decreased $118.5 billion and U.S. liabilities decreased $73.3 billion, reflecting decreases in the value of financial derivatives, mostly in single-currency interest rate contracts.
  • U.S. assets excluding financial derivatives increased $205.1 billion, reflecting increases in foreign equity prices that increased the value of U.S. direct investment and portfolio investment assets.
  • U.S. liabilities excluding financial derivatives increased $250.7 billion, reflecting increases in U.S. equity prices that increased the value of U.S. direct investment and portfolio investment liabilities.

For more information, read the full report.