The source of the data for this interactive system is BEA’s published tables on direct investment and the activities of MNEs. Because the content of these tables has changed over time as the composition of direct investment has changed, the geographic and industry detail available in the tables in this interactive system may vary from year to year. For example, tables for recent years may include detail on foreign direct investment in the United States from a particular country because investment from that country has become significant; however, data may not be shown for that country for earlier years because foreign investment from the country was negligible or nonexistent in those years. In such cases, the data cell for that country for the earlier years will display “n.s.” for not shown.
The detail available may vary from year to year for other reasons. For example, the content of the tables on the activities of U.S. affiliates of foreign MNEs will vary because, beginning with the data for 2002, BEA significantly expanded the information available on the activities of majority-owned U.S. affiliates. Due to this change, tables for majority-owned affiliates may contain less detail for years prior to 2002 than they do for later years. An “n.s.” will be displayed in the cells not separately published for the earlier years. In conjunction with the expansion of information for majority-owned affiliates, BEA modified the detail available for all affiliates (majority-owned and minority-owned affiliates combined). While information on the activities of all affiliates continues to be available for 2002 and later years, it is not as comprehensive or as detailed as that provided for earlier years. Due to this change in emphasis, tables for all affiliates may contain more detail for years prior to 2002 than they do for later years. An “n.s” will be displayed in the cells not separately published for the later years.
For the balance of payment and direct investment position data, tables available through this interactive system provide detailed annual estimates by country and by industry that are not available in the U.S. international investment position or U.S. international transactions accounts. However, the estimates from these interactive tables differ in certain respects from the data in those accounts. First, the direct investment position statistics in these tables are valued at historical cost, the only way detailed statistics by country and industry are available. In contrast, the statistics on the direct investment position in the international investment position accounts are presented at current cost and market value. Second, the statistics on direct investment income and financial flows in these tables are presented without a current-cost adjustment. In contrast, the statistics on direct investment income (in the current account) and financial flows (in the financial account) in the main presentation of the U.S. international transactions accounts are presented with a current-cost adjustment. Third, the statistics on direct investment income and services transactions in these tables for years before 2006 are net of withholding taxes. In contrast, the statistics on direct investment income and services transactions in the main presentation of the U.S. international transactions accounts are gross of withholding taxes.