International Trade & Investment

The U.S. current-account deficit, which reflects the combined balances on trade in goods and services and income flows between U.S. residents and residents of other countries, widened by $35.9 billion, or 13.1 percent, to $310.9 billion in the third quarter of 2024. The widening reflected expanded deficits on secondary income, on primary income, and on goods. The third-quarter deficit was 4.2 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product, up from 3.8 percent in the second quarter.

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit decreased from $83.8 billion in September (revised) to $73.8 billion in October, as imports decreased more than exports. The goods deficit decreased $10.4 billion to $98.7 billion, and the services surplus decreased $0.4 billion to $24.8 billion.

Majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign multinational enterprises employed 8.35 million workers in the United States in 2022, a 6.8 percent increase from 7.82 million workers in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. These affiliates accounted for 6.2 percent of total private-industry employment in the United States in 2022.

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit increased from $70.8 billion in August (revised) to $84.4 billion in September, as exports decreased and imports increased. The goods deficit increased $14.2 billion to $109.0 billion, and the services surplus increased $0.6 billion to $24.6 billion.

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit decreased from $78.9 billion in July (revised) to $70.4 billion in August, as exports increased and imports decreased. The goods deficit decreased $8.4 billion to $94.9 billion, and the services surplus increased $0.1 billion to $24.4 billion.

The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$22.52 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2024, according to statistics released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Assets totaled $36.00 trillion, and liabilities were $58.52 trillion. At the end of the first quarter, the net investment position was –$21.29 trillion (revised). 

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit increased from $73.0 billion in June (revised) to $78.8 billion in July, as imports increased more than exports. The goods deficit increased $5.6 billion to $103.1 billion, and the services surplus decreased $0.2 billion to $24.3 billion. 

Worldwide employment by U.S. multinational enterprises increased 2.2 percent to 44.3 million workers in 2022 from 43.3 million workers in 2021 (revised). 

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit decreased from $75.0 billion in May (revised) to $73.1 billion in June, as exports increased more than imports. The goods deficit decreased $2.5 billion to $97.4 billion, and the services surplus decreased $0.6 billion to $24.2 billion. 

The U.S. direct investment abroad position, or cumulative level of investment, increased $364.0 billion to $6.68 trillion at the end of 2023, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The increase reflected a $147.1 billion increase in the position in Europe (chart 1), primarily in Ireland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. By industry, holding company affiliates had the largest increase.