Annual revision of the U.S. international transactions accounts.
Hoang, Mai-Chi ; Whitaker, Erin M.
IN JUNE, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released annual
revisions of the U.S international transactions accounts (ITAs) and the
U.S. international investment position (IIP) accounts. (1) Through
annual revisions, BEA introduces new definitions and classifications,
newly available and more complete source data, new and improved
methodologies, and new and updated presentations. Together, these
changes improve the reliability and consistency of the statistics and
address important new developments in the U.S. and international
economies.
In this annual revision, statistics on U.S. international
transactions for 1999-2010 were revised; summary information on these
revisions is presented in appendix A. Revised statistics for the
detailed components of the ITAs are shown in table 1 in the article
"U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter of 2011" in
this issue.
This annual revision introduces several changes in definitions and
classifications in the ITAs. These changes are part of a multiyear
effort to modernize and enhance BEA's international economic
accounts in order to align them with international standards. For
additional information on these standards, see the box "Updated
International Statistical Standards."
For this annual revision, changes in definitions and
classifications related to the implementation of international standards
include the following:
* Reclassification within services of cruise fares from passenger
fares to travel, beginning with statistics for 1999.
* Reclassification of postal services from U.S. government
miscellaneous services to "other" transportation services,
beginning with statistics for 1999.
* Reclassification of fees for the rights to distribute film and
television recordings from "other" private services to
royalties and license fees, beginning with statistics for 1999.
* Exclusion of expenditures of foreign nationals working at
international organizations in the United States from "other"
private services and inclusion of their compensation in compensation of
employees, beginning with statistics for 1999.
* Change in the recording of U.S. government income on holdings and
allocations of special drawing rights from a net basis to a gross basis,
beginning with statistics for 2003.
BEA expects to implement additional changes recommended by
international statistical standards in future annual revisions. BEA has
adopted a phased approach to implementation, taking into account factors
such as source data availability, resource requirements, and consistency
with BEA's national, industry, and regional economic accounts.
Implementation depends not only on the economic and statistical
significance of the changes but also on factors such as information
technology requirements, estimation needs, and possible effects on
publication tables and data dissemination. (2)
Other significant changes introduced in this annual revision
include the following:
* Exports and imports of goods for 1999-2010 were revised to
introduce seasonal adjustment to the balance-of-payments adjustments.
(3)
* Exports and imports of goods for 1999-2009 were revised to update
and expand the coverage of balance-of-payments adjustments for low-value
transactions. (4)
* Components of goods imports for 1999-2010 were revised to
reallocate portions of the adjustments for low-value imports and for
inland freight charges in Canada and Mexico from "other" goods
to the relevant end-use commodity categories.
* Imports of goods and services for 2004-2010 were revised to
incorporate an improved methodology for estimating expenditures of U.S.
air carriers in foreign ports.
* Exports of services and income payments for 1999-2010 were
revised to incorporate an improved methodology for measuring the
compensation and U.S. expenditures of foreign residents working in the
United States for less than one year (short-term workers).
* Exports and imports of services for 2007-2010 were revised to
incorporate new and updated source data from the initial results of
BEA's 2009 Benchmark Survey of Financial Services Transactions
Between U.S. Financial Services Providers and Foreign Persons and from
BEA's other surveys of international services transactions.
* Net unilateral current transfers for 2000-2010 were revised to
incorporate new and updated source data on U.S. government grants from
the U.S. Department of Defense and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
(5) The revisions for 2008-2010 also reflect new and updated source data
from BEA's surveys of institutional remittances and international
insurance transactions. (6)
* Direct investment financial flows and related income receipts and
payments for 2007-2010 were revised to incorporate new and updated
source data from the results of BEA's 2007 Benchmark Survey of
Foreign Direct Investment in the United States. The revisions for
2008-2010 also reflect the incorporation of new and updated source data
from BEA's quarterly and annual surveys of U.S. direct investment
abroad and foreign direct investment in the United States.
* Foreign securities positions, financial flows, interest receipts
for foreign bonds, and dividend receipts for foreign stocks for
2008-2010 were revised to incorporate new and updated source data from
the results of the U.S. Treasury Department's annual survey of
securities claims--U.S. Ownership of Foreign Securities as of December
2009--and other updated source data.
* U.S. securities positions, financial flows, interest payments for
U.S. bonds, and dividend payments for U.S. stocks for 2008-2010 were
revised to incorporate new and updated source data from the results of
the U.S. Treasury Department's annual survey of securities
liabilities--Foreign-Residents' Holdings of U.S. Securities as of
June 2010--and other updated source data.
Despite several relatively large changes, this annual revision has
not significantly affected the overall picture of the current-account
balance. The current-account deficit for most years was revised down,
but the revised statistics show nearly the same widening of the deficit
through 2006, declines for 2007-2009, and a pickup for 2010 (chart 1).
In contrast, this annual revision has altered the pattern of net
financial flows. As a result of significant revisions to net financial
inflows, the direction of change from 2007 to 2008 was reversed: in the
revised statistics, net financial inflows increased, but in the
previously published statistics, they decreased (chart 2).
The combined revisions to the current and financial accounts
resulted in a particularly significant revision to the statistical
discrepancy--net errors and omissions in recorded transactions--for
2008, and the statistical discrepancy for 2009 and 2010 remains large
(table A). BEA is continuing its efforts to improve the coverage of
international transactions and to reduce the size of the statistical
discrepancy.
This article is divided into two major sections. The first section
summarizes the impact of the revisions on the statistics from the
current and financial accounts, including the statistical discrepancy.
(Net capital-account transactions were virtually unrevised for 2010 and
were unrevised for all other years.) The second section discusses the
major changes in definitions, classifications, methodologies, and source
data that are introduced in this annual revision.
[GRAPHIC 1 OMITTED]
[GRAPHIC 2 OMITTED]
Impact of the Revisions
The revisions to the statistics resulted from the incorporation of
new and updated source data, new and improved methodologies, and
reclassifications of certain transactions within services. This annual
revision is also the first time that statistics on financial derivatives
for the fourth quarter of 2010 are available, providing the first
complete picture of transactions for 2010.
Current-account highlights
Current-account statistics for 1999-2010 were revised (table A).
The current-account deficit for 1999, 2008, and 2010 was revised up, and
for all other years, it was revised down; the largest revisions were for
2007 and 2008. The revised statistics show the same trend in the
current-account deficit as the previously published statistics. However,
in the revised statistics, the decreases in the deficit for 2007 and
2009 are larger, and the decline for 2008 is smaller.
In addition to the sources of revisions noted above for the annual
statistics, the quarterly statistics incorporated revised seasonal
factors for exports and imports of goods and services and for receipts
and payments of income. This annual revision also introduces seasonal
adjustment for several balance-of-payments adjustments.
In general, the revisions to the quarterly statistics on goods,
services, income, and transfers did not alter the direction of the
quarter-to-quarter changes in the current-account deficit (chart 3). The
exceptions were the second quarter of 2008 and the third quarter of
2010; for both quarters, the current-account deficit decreased in the
revised statistics but increased in the previously published statistics.
[GRAPHIC 3 OMITTED]
For most quarters of 1999-2006, the revisions did not significantly
affect the magnitude of the quarter-to-quarter changes in the
current-account deficit. However, the changes in the current-account
deficit for several quarters of 2007-2010 were significantly revised;
the largest revisions were for the first and second quarters of 2010.
Goods and services. The deficit on goods and services for 1999-2008
was revised down, and for 2009 and 2010, it was revised up; the largest
revisions were for 2006 and 2009. In general, the revised statistics
show the same trend as the previously published statistics. The
exception was from 2007 to 2008 when the deficit on goods and services
increased in the revised statistics but decreased in the previously
published statistics.
The deficit on goods for 1999-2010 was revised down; the largest
revisions were for 2005-2008. The revisions to goods exports and imports
for 1999-2009 reflect the incorporation of the adjustments for low-value
transactions (table B). The revisions to goods imports for 2004-2010
also reflect downward revisions to the adjustment for fuel purchases by
U.S. air carriers in foreign ports.
In addition, in imports of goods, imports of several end-use
commodity categories were revised. With this annual revision, beginning
with statistics for 1999, portions of the adjustments for low-value
imports and for inland freight charges in Canada and Mexico (charges for
transporting goods from the point of origin in Canada or Mexico to the
U.S. border) were applied to the relevant end-use commodity categories
rather than to the residual category for imports of "other"
goods. Reallocations of these adjustments resulted in downward revisions
to imports of "other" goods and in offsetting upward revisions
to imports of several end-use commodity categories; the reallocations
did not affect total goods imports.
The surplus on services for 1999-2007 was revised up, and for
2008-2010, it was revised down; the largest revisions were for
2008-2010. Services exports for all years were revised up, mostly
reflecting revisions to "other" private services and royalties
and license fees. Services imports for 2004-2010 were revised up,
primarily as a result of revisions to "other" transportation
services and "other" private services. For both exports and
imports, revisions to several services components for all years also
reflect the reclassifications of certain transactions--cruise fares,
postal services, and fees for the rights to distribute film and
television recordings--within services; these reclassifications did not
affect total services exports or imports.
Income. The surplus on income for 1999-2006 and 2008 was revised
down, and for 2007, 2009, and 2010, it was revised up; the largest
revisions were for 2008 and 2009. Income receipts for all years were
revised up. Significant revisions for 2008 and 2009 were mostly due to
upward revisions to direct investment income receipts. Revisions for all
years also reflect upward revisions to compensation of employees. Income
payments for 1999-2009 were revised up, and for 2010, they were revised
down. The largest revision was for 2008, mainly resulting from an upward
revision to direct investment income payments. The downward revision to
income payments for 2010 was attributable to a downward revision to U.S.
government payments. Revisions to income payments for all years also
reflect revisions to compensation of employees.
Transfers. Net outflows of unilateral current transfers for
2000-2010 were revised. Revisions for all years reflect revisions to
U.S. government grants. The revisions for 2008-2010 also reflect
revisions to private remittances and other transfers.
Financial-account highlights
Financial-account statistics for 2007-2010 were revised (table A).
Net financial inflows, which include financial derivatives, were revised
down $20.9 billion for 2007 and were revised up $152.7 billion for 2008,
$29.8 billion for 2009, and $19.0 billion for 2010. Revisions to net
financial inflows represent the combined effects of revisions to
transactions in U.S.-owned assets abroad, in foreign-owned assets in the
United States, and in financial derivatives (which are recorded on a net
basis in the ITAs). These revisions reflect the incorporation of new and
updated source data from the results of BENs 2007 Benchmark Survey of
Foreign Direct Investment in the United States, BEA's quarterly and
annual surveys of direct investment, the Treasury International Capital
(TIC) reporting system, and the U.S. Treasury Department's annual
surveys of securities--U.S. Ownership of Foreign Securities as of
December 2009 and Foreign-Residents' Holdings of U.S. Securities as
of June 2010.
For 2007, transactions in U.S.-owned assets abroad were revised
down less than transactions in foreign-owned assets in the United
States, and as a result, net financial inflows were revised down. In
contrast, for 2008, transactions in U.S.-owned assets abroad were
revised down considerably more than transactions in foreign-owned assets
in the United States, resulting in a relatively large upward revision to
net financial inflows. For 2009 and 2010, transactions in U.S.-owned
assets abroad were revised down, transactions in foreign-owned assets in
the United States were revised up, and transactions in financial
derivatives were revised down; for both years, the revisions resulted in
modest upward revisions to net financial inflows. (7)
Generally, the revisions did not change the quarterly trend in
transactions for 2007 (chart 4). However, the decrease in net financial
inflows from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2007 is now
larger as a result of a first-quarter upward revision and a
second-quarter downward revision to net financial inflows, and the
increase from the third quarter to the fourth quarter of 2007 is now
smaller as a result of a third-quarter upward revision and a
fourth-quarter downward revision.
For 2008, net financial inflows were revised up for the first,
third, and fourth quarters and were nearly unrevised for the second
quarter; the upward revision for the fourth quarter was significant, as
transactions in U.S-owned assets abroad were revised up and transactions
in foreign-owned assets in the United States were revised down. The
resulting quarterly trend in transactions sharpened the decrease from
the first quarter to the second quarter. These revisions also altered
the trend for 2008 from a decline to a rise in the second half of the
year; the $152.7 billion upward revision for the year reflects this
shift.
For 2009, the revisions to net financial inflows for the quarters
were partly offsetting; net financial inflows were revised up for the
first quarter, were revised down for the second and third quarters, and
were revised up more significantly for the fourth quarter. These
revisions also altered the quarter-to-quarter changes for 2009. They
resulted in a decrease to net financial inflows for the second quarter;
in the previously published statistics, these inflows increased. In
addition, the increase for the third quarter is now smaller, and the
increase for the fourth quarter is now considerably larger.
[GRAPHIC 4 OMITTED]
For 2010, the revisions did not notably change the quarterly trend
in transactions. However, the $27.4 billion upward revision to net
financial inflows for the third quarter more than accounted for the
$19.0 billion upward revision for the year.
U.S.-owned assets abroad
Transactions in U.S.-owned assets abroad excluding financial
derivatives represent the net acquisition of foreign financial assets by
U.S. residents. These transactions, in which net acquisitions are
recorded as outflows with a minus sign, were revised down (became less
negative) $22.1 billion for 2007, $176.0 billion for 2008, $1.1 billion
for 2009, and $19.5 billion for 2010 (table C). The downward revision
for 2008 was particularly noteworthy not only because of its size but
also because it further increased net inflows for 2008, the only year in
several decades without net acquisitions of foreign financial assets.
U.S. direct investment abroad. The revisions largely resulted from
updated source data from BEA's quarterly and annual surveys of
direct investment. The statistics were virtually unrevised for 2007,
were revised down $22.1 billion for 2008, and were revised up $34.9
billion for 2009 and $5.7 billion for 2010. The downward revision for
2008 reflects downward revisions to both U.S. equity investment abroad
and reinvested earnings that were partly offset by an upward revision to
intercompany debt investment. The upward revision for 2009 reflects
upward revisions to both intercompany debt investment and equity
investment that were partly offset by a downward revision to reinvested
earnings. The upward revision for 2010 largely reflects an upward
revision to reinvested earnings.
Foreign securities. For 2008, net sales of foreign securities were
revised down $0.6 billion. For 2009, net purchases of foreign securities
were revised up $18.6 billion, reflecting the incorporation of the
results of the U.S. Treasury Department's December 2009 survey and
other updated source data. For 2010, net purchases of foreign securities
were revised down $15.2 billion.
Nonbank claims. Net downward revisions for 2007-2010 reflect
updated data from the TIC reporting system and other sources and from
revised data on the intercompany debt claims of financial intermediaries
from BEA's surveys of direct investment, particularly the 2007
benchmark survey. (8) The revisions of $22.2 billion for 2007 and $20.4
billion for 2009 were mainly due to updated data from the 2007 benchmark
survey.
Bank claims. Net downward revisions of $119.5 billion for 2008,
$34.2 billion for 2009, and $4.1 billion for 2010 were largely accounted
for by updated data from the TIC reporting system. The revision for 2008
also partly reflects updated data from BEA's direct investment
surveys, particularly the 2007 benchmark survey. (9)
Foreign-owned assets in the United States
Transactions in foreign-owned assets in the United States excluding
financial derivatives represent the net acquisition of U.S. financial
assets by foreign residents. In these transactions, net acquisitions are
recorded as inflows with a positive sign. Net acquisitions of U.S.
assets by foreign residents reached a historic high in 2007 in the
previously published statistics, but the downward revision of $43.0
billion for 2007 shifted the peak to 2006 in the revised statistics. A
downward revision of $23.3 billion for 2008 and an upward revision of
$30.1 billion for 2009 narrowed the year-to-year change. Financial
inflows were virtually unrevised for 2010 as revisions to the components
were almost entirely offsetting.
Foreign direct investment in the United States. The revisions
largely resulted from updated data from BEA's 2007 benchmark survey
and BENs other direct investment surveys. Statistics were revised down
$50.0 billion for 2007 and $18.2 billion for 2008 and were revised up
$23.9 billion for 2009 and $41.8 billion for 2010. The downward revision
for 2007 reflects a downward revision to intercompany debt investment;
downward revisions to both equity investment and reinvested earnings
also contributed. The downward revision for 2008 reflects downward
revisions to reinvested earnings, equity investment, and intercompany
debt investment. The upward revision for 2009 reflects an upward
revision to equity investment that was partly offset by downward
revisions to both reinvested earnings and intercompany debt. The upward
revision for 2010 mostly reflects an upward revision to equity
investment.
Official and private transactions in U.S. Treasury securities.
Foreign official net purchases of U.S. Treasury securities for 2007 and
2008 were unrevised, and for 2009 and 2010, they were revised up.
Foreign private net purchases for 2008 were revised up slightly, and for
2009 and 2010, they were revised down. The $37.7 billion downward
revision to private net purchases of U.S. Treasury securities for 2009
partly offset other sizable upward revisions to transactions in
foreign-owned assets in the United States. The revisions for 2008
reflect updated data from the TIC reporting system; the revisions for
2009 and 2010 were largely due to updated data from the U.S. Treasury
Department's June 2010 survey.
Official transactions in other U.S. government securities. Official
transactions in other (U.S. government-sponsored agency) securities were
revised down $12.5 billion for 2009 and $3.8 billion for 2010. These
revisions resulted from the incorporation of updated data from the U.S.
Treasury Department's June 2010 survey; for 2010, revisions due to
updated data from the June 2010 survey were partly offset by revisions
due to updated data from the TIC reporting system.
Other foreign official assets and private transactions in U.S.
securities other than U.S. Treasury securities. Net purchases of other
foreign official assets (U.S. corporate stocks and bonds) were revised
up $31.8 billion for 2009 and $32.0 billion for 2010. Private net
purchases of U.S. securities other than U.S. Treasury securities were
revised up $3.9 billion for 2009 and were revised down $55.0 billion for
2010; for 2010, an upward revision to private net sales of agency
securities was partly offset by an upward revision to private net
purchases of U.S. corporate stocks and bonds. These revisions resulted
from the incorporation of updated source data from both the U.S.
Treasury Department's June 2010 survey and the TIC reporting
system.
Nonbank liabilities. For 2007, nonbank liabilities were revised up
$0.9 billion; the revision was due to updated data from the Bank for
International Settlements reporting system that were mostly offset by
updated data from BEA's 2007 benchmark survey. Upward revisions of
$5.0 billion for 2008, $13.9 billion for 2009, and $27.5 billion for
2010 reflect the incorporation of updated data from the TIC reporting
system, BEA's 2007 benchmark survey, BEA's other direct
investment surveys, and other updated source data. For 2008 and 2010,
revisions due to other source data were partly offset by revisions due
to source data from the 2007 benchmark survey and other BEA direct
investment surveys; for 2009, the upward revision mostly reflects
revisions due to other source data.
Bank liabilities. Bank liabilities were revised up $6.2 billion for
2007; the revision reflects updated data from BEA's 2007 benchmark
survey. Bank liabilities were revised down $16.4 billion for 2008 and
$4.1 billion for 2009; these revisions mainly reflect updated data from
the TIC reporting system and BEA's other direct investment surveys,
respectively. Bank liabilities were revised down $15.1 billion for 2010;
the revision reflects updated data from the TIC reporting system that
were partly offset by updated BEA survey data on direct investment.
Statistical discrepancy
In principle, the combined deficit (or surplus) on the current and
capital accounts should equal net financial inflows (or outflows) in the
financial account. In practice, however, they differ because of
incomplete source data, gaps in coverage, timing differences, or other
errors and omissions. The statistical discrepancy is defined as the sum
of the balances on the current, capital, and financial accounts, with
the sign reversed. (10)
The statistical discrepancy for 1999-2010 was revised. The
revisions for 1999-2006 reflect revisions to the deficit on the current
account only. For 2007, the statistical discrepancy was revised up
(became more positive), primarily resulting from a downward revision to
net financial inflows. For 2008, a large upward revision to net
financial inflows was the main reason for the change in the sign of the
statistical discrepancy in the revised statistics--the statistical
discrepancy was revised to -$59.4 billion from the previously published
$85.0 billion. For 2009 and 2010, the statistical discrepancy was
revised down, largely as a result of significant upward revisions to net
financial inflows for both years. Despite the downward revisions for
2009 and 2010, the statistical discrepancy remains relatively large. BEA
continues to conduct research and work closely with its source data
partners to address concerns about the size of the statistical
discrepancy.
Changes in Definitions, Classifications, Methodologies, and Source
Data
This section identifies the changes in definitions,
classifications, methodologies, and source data introduced in this
annual revision, describes the accounts and periods affected, and
briefly discusses the rationale for the changes. Changes in definitions
and classifications are discussed first, followed by statistical changes
in methodologies and source data. Changes in definitions and
classifications represent new views of the economic accounting concepts
and principles that should be measured in the accounts. Statistical
changes pro vide better statistical measures of specific concepts or
principles.
Changes in definitions and classifications
For this annual revision, all the changes in definitions and
classifications reflect new treatments of certain services and income
transactions within the current account. These changes are designed to
more closely align BENs statistics with international guidelines, (11)
This annual revision introduces new treatments of the following
transactions within services: cruise fares, postal services, and fees
for the rights to distribute film and television recordings.
In the previously published statistics, cruise fares were recorded
in passenger fares along with other fares for passage aboard air and
ocean carriers. Beginning with statistics for 1999, cruise fares were
reclassified from passenger fares (table 1, lines 7 and 24) to travel
(lines 6 and 23). (12) This reclassification follows the recommendation
of international guidelines to classify cruise fares in the travel
accounts because they cover onboard expenditures for goods and services
similar to expenditures related to land travel, such as accommodations,
meals, and entertainment.
In the previously published statistics, settlements between the
U.S. Postal Service and foreign postal services for the delivery of
letters, printed materials, and parcels were included in U.S. government
miscellaneous services. Beginning with statistics for 1999, postal
services transactions were reclassified from U.S. government
miscellaneous services (lines 11 and 28) to "other"
transportation services (lines 8 and 25). This reclassification follows
the recommendations of the sixth edition of the International Monetary
Fund's Balance of Payments and International Investment Position
Manual to classify postal services in the transportation accounts and to
classify government services transactions according to the type of
service performed. (13)
In the previously published statistics, fees for the rights to
distribute film and television recordings were included in
"other" private services along with other audiovisual
services, such as those related to the production of motion picture and
radio and television programs. Beginning with statistics for 1999, the
fees for the distribution rights related to film and television
recordings were reclassified from "other" private services
(lines 10 and 27) to royalties and license fees (lines 9 and 26). This
reclassification aligns the treatment of these fees with international
guidelines for the classification of transactions related to the rights
to distribute intellectual property.
The reclassifications described above resulted in upward revisions
for 1999-2010 to travel, "other" transportation services, and
royalties and license fees and in offsetting downward revisions for
1999-2010 to passenger fares, U.S. government miscellaneous services,
and "other" private services, respectively. These
reclassifications did not affect total services exports or imports
(tables D and E).
In addition to these reclassifications, this year's annual
revision also introduces a new treatment of foreign nationals who live
in the United States and are employed by international organizations
located in the United States. In the previously published statistics,
these foreign nationals were treated as foreign residents; therefore,
their expenditures on goods and services in the United States were
included in exports of services.14 However, according to international
guidelines, these foreign nationals should be treated as U.S. residents.
As a result, their expenditures on goods and services in the United
States should be excluded from the ITAs because these expenditures
represent transactions between U.S. residents. In addition, because of
their status as U.S. residents for statistical purposes, the
compensation that these foreign nationals receive from international
organizations should be included in U.S. income receipts from abroad
because international organizations are considered nonresident entities
regardless of their location. To align the U.S. accounts with these
guidelines, beginning with statistics for 1999, the U.S. expenditures of
these foreign nationals were excluded from "other" private
services (line 10), and the compensation that they receive was added to
compensation of employees (line 17). For 1999-2010, these changes
contributed to downward revisions to exports of "other"
private services and to upward revisions to compensation of employees
(receipts) (table D).
In the previously published statistics, income flows associated
with U.S. holdings and allocations of special drawing rights (SDRs) were
included in U.S. government receipts (line 16) on a net basis; that is,
the amount recorded was equal to interest receipts on SDR holdings net
of interest payments on SDR allocations. However, the Balance of
Payments and International Investment Position Manual recommends that
interest receipts and payments be recorded on a gross basis.
Beginning with statistics for 2003, interest receipts were recorded
in U.S. government receipts (line 16), and interest payments were
recorded in U.S. government payments (line 33). This new treatment
contributed to upward revisions to U.S. government receipts and payments
for nearly all years; the downward revision to U.S. government payments
for 2010 was attributable to a downward revision to foreign holdings of
U.S. Treasury and agency securities (tables D and E).
Statistical Changes Current account
Several changes in methodologies were introduced in this annual
revision in order to improve the statistics on exports and imports of
goods and services and on income payments. In addition, source data were
updated for goods, services, income, and transfers.
For this annual revision, several of the balance-of-payments
adjustments that BEA applies to Census Bureau data to convert the data
to a balance-of-payments basis have been updated. These adjustments are
itemized in table 2, part A, in the article "U.S. International
Transactions: First Quarter of 2011" in this issue and are
incorporated into the respective end-use commodity categories presented
in table 2, part C.
The balance-of-payments adjustments for low-value exports and
imports were introduced for 1999-2006 with this annual revision and were
revised for 2007-2009. The low-value adjustments for 2007-2009 were
introduced with last year's annual revision to phase in a revised
Census Bureau methodology for low-value transactions that was
implemented for goods on a Census basis, beginning with statistics for
2010. The revisions to these adjustments are reflected in revisions to
goods exports and imports for 1999-2009 in table B.
In the previously published statistics, balance-of-payments
adjustments for low-value imports and for inland freight in Canada and
Mexico were applied to imports of "other" goods. (The
adjustment for inland freight is made to record the inland freight
charges for transporting imports of certain Canadian and Mexican goods
from the point of origin in Canada or Mexico to the U.S. border in order
to record these imports at customs value.) Beginning with statistics for
1999, portions of these adjustments are now applied to the relevant
end-use commodity categories rather than to imports of "other"
goods. These reallocations resulted in downward revisions to the
residual commodity category "imports, not elsewhere classified, and
U.S. goods returned" (table 2, part C, line 158) and in offsetting
upward revisions to several end-use commodity categories; the
reallocations did not affect total imports of goods.
Beginning with statistics for 1999, this annual revision introduces
seasonal adjustment for several balance-of-payments adjustments that
exhibit statistically significant seasonal patterns. The following
adjustments are now seasonally adjusted: goods procured in ports by
nonresident carriers (exports and imports), low-value transactions
(exports and imports), inland freight in Canada and Mexico (imports),
and revaluation of software from media value to market value (imports).
The incorporation of seasonally adjusted adjustments into goods exports
and imports did not affect the annual statistics but did result in
significant revisions to the quarterly statistics, particularly at the
component level.
The methodology for estimating expenditures of U.S. air carriers in
foreign ports was modified for 2004-2010. This change resulted in
estimates that more accurately reflect these carriers' fuel and
non-fuel expenditures. Revised fuel expenditures were incorporated into
imports of petroleum and products (table 2, part C, line 100) through
the balance-of-payments adjustment "goods procured in foreign ports
by U.S. carriers." Revised nonfuel expenditures were incorporated
into imports of "other" transportation services (line 25). The
revisions resulting from this improved methodology are offsetting within
goods and services. For goods, the revisions are reflected in imports of
goods in table B; for services, the revisions are reflected in
statistical changes for imports of "other" transportation
services in table E.
Beginning with statistics for 1999, the methodology to measure the
compensation and U.S. expenditures of foreign residents who work in the
United States for less than one year (short-term workers) was improved.
With this improvement, the coverage of documented short-term workers was
expanded to include workers who enter the United States on temporary
visas. In addition, a new method for estimating undocumented short-term
workers is introduced that combines information on the undocumented
immigrant population in the U.S. labor force, the occupations of these
immigrants, wage rates, hours worked, migration patterns, and other
variables. The sources for this information are the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security, and the Pew Hispanic Center. (15) This expanded
coverage of nonresident short-term workers in the United States resulted
in upward revisions to both the compensation paid to these workers and
their expenditures on goods and services in the United States.
The revisions resulting from these changes are reflected in
compensation of employees (payments) in table E and in statistical
changes for exports of "other" private services in table D.
Other changes include the following:
* Statistics for 2007-2010 were revised to incorporate new and
updated source data from the initial results of BEA's 2009
Benchmark Survey of Financial Services Transactions Between U.S.
Financial Services Providers and Foreign Persons. The revisions are
reflected in statistical changes for "other" private services
in tables D and E.
* Statistics for 2007-2010 were revised to incorporate new and
updated source data from BEA's other surveys of international
services transactions. The revisions are reflected in statistical
changes for services in tables D and E.
* Statistics for 2000-2010 were revised to incorporate new and
updated source data on U.S. government grants from the U.S. Department
of Defense and the Millennium Challenge Corporation; statistics for
2008-2010 were also revised to incorporate new and updated source data
from BEA's surveys of institutional remittances and international
insurance transactions. The revisions for all years are reflected in
revisions to net unilateral current transfers in table B.
* Statistics for 2007-2010 were revised to incorporate new and
updated source data from the results of BEA's 2007 Benchmark Survey
of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States; statistics for
2008-2010 were also revised to incorporate new and updated quarterly and
annual survey data on direct investment financial and income flows. The
revisions for all years are reflected in statistical changes for income
in tables D and E.
* Statistics for 2008-2010 were revised to incorporate new source
data on financial positions from the U.S. Treasury Department's
annual surveys of cross-border securities that resulted in revisions to
"other" private receipts (line 15) and "other"
private payments (line 32). The revisions are reflected in statistical
changes for income in tables D and E.
Financial account
This annual revision introduces new and improved source data from
the U.S. Treasury Department's annual surveys of securities--U.S.
Ownership of Foreign Securities as of December 2009 and
Foreign-Residents' Holdings of U.S. Securities as of June 2010. The
incorporation of data from these surveys led to revised transaction and
income statistics associated with cross-border holdings of U.S. and
foreign securities for 2009 and 2010. (Total revisions to selected
components are summarized in table C.) The survey results are also
reflected in revisions to the U.S. international investment position for
2009 and in the preliminary estimates for 2010. The following
information summarizes the impact of the incorporation of the results
from these surveys.
Foreign stocks and bonds. Position and transaction statistics were
revised to incorporate the results from the December 2009 survey. To
align BEA's statistics with the December 2009 survey results, for
yearend 2009, positions for foreign stocks were revised up $17.9
billion, and positions for foreign bonds were revised up $76.8 billion.
In addition, net U.S. purchases of foreign securities (line 52) were
revised up for 2009 and were revised down for 2010.
U.S. Treasury bonds. Position and transaction statistics for
foreign official and foreign private holdings were revised to
incorporate the results from the June 2010 survey. The survey revealed
that official holdings were $30.3 billion higher than estimated in the
previously published statistics and that private holdings were $73.6
billion lower than estimated, resulting in offsetting revisions to
positions and transactions. As a result, for yearend 2009, official
holdings were revised up $14.8 billion, and private holdings were
revised down $33.9 billion. In addition, official net purchases of U.S.
Treasury securities (line 58) were revised up, and private net purchases
(line 65) were revised down for the quarters between June 2009 and June
2010.
U.S. agency bonds. The June 2010 survey revealed that foreign
official holdings were $25.1 billion lower than estimated in the
previously published statistics and that foreign private holdings were
$77.3 billion lower than estimated. As a result, for yearend 2009,
official holdings were revised down $12.4 billion, and private holdings
were revised down $36.4 billion. In addition, official net purchases of
agency bonds (line 59) and private net purchases (a component of line
66) were both revised down for the quarters between June 2009 and June
2010.
U.S. corporate bonds. The June 2010 survey revealed that foreign
official holdings were $13.7 billion lower than estimated in the
previously published statistics and that foreign private holdings were
$28.9 billion higher than estimated. As a result, for yearend 2009,
official holdings were revised down $6.7 billion, and private holdings
were revised up $20.7 billion. In addition, private net sales of
corporate bonds (a component of line 66) were revised down for the
quarters between June 2009 and June 2010.
U.S. corporate stocks. The June 2010 survey revealed that foreign
official holdings were $71.4 billion higher than estimated in the
previously published statistics and that foreign private holdings were
$91.3 billion higher than estimated. As a result, for yearend 2009,
official holdings were revised up $39.1 billion, and private holdings
were revised up $48.4 billion. In addition, official net purchases of
corporate stocks (a component of line 62) were revised up for the
quarters between June 2009 and June 2010, mostly explaining the total
revisions to line 62. Private net purchases (a component of line 66)
were also revised up for the same period.
Foreign private net purchases of U.S. securities other than U.S.
Treasury securities (line 66). In this line, the revisions to foreign
private transactions in agency bonds, corporate bonds, and corporate
stocks are combined, resulting in a slight upward revision for 2009; the
upward revisions to corporate bonds and stocks were mostly offset by the
downward revision to agency bonds. For 2010, the combined private net
purchases of these securities were revised down $55.0 billion; the
downward revision to agency bonds more than offset the upward revisions
to corporate bonds and stocks.
Appendix A follows.
Appendix A. Revisions to U.S. International Transactions-Continues
[Millions of dollars, quarters seasonally adjusted]
Exports of goods and services and income receipts
(Credits +, Previously
debits -) (1) published Revised Revision
1999 1,259,810 1,262,431 2,621
2000 1,421,515 1,425,260 3,745
2001 1,295,693 1,300,156 4,463
2002 1,258,412 1,263,580 5,168
2003 1,340,353 1,345,930 5,577
2004 1,572,315 1,578,939 6,624
2005 1,816,449 1,824,780 8,331
2006 2,135,004 2,144,443 9,439
2007 2,478,267 2,488,394 10,127
2008 2,635,540 2,656,585 21,045
2009 2,159,000 2,174,533 15,533
2010 2,496,630 2,500,817 4,187
1999: I 300,183 301,005 822
II 307,288 307,938 650
III 319,936 320,396 460
IV 332,407 333,095 688
2000: I 341,684 342,570 886
II 355,307 356,151 844
III 360,295 361,296 1,001
IV 364,231 365,246 1,015
2001: I 350,489 351,600 1,111
II 334,968 335,986 1,018
III 312,094 313,257 1,163
IV 298,144 299,313 1,169
2002: I 303,113 304,361 1,248
II 314,894 316,088 1,194
III 322,396 323,800 1,404
IV 318,013 319,332 1,319
2003: I 322,251 323,717 1,466
II 325,297 326,636 1,339
III 335,696 337,118 1,422
IV 357,105 358,454 1,349
2004: I 375,509 377,095 1,586
II 387,026 388,727 1,701
III 396,510 398,132 1,622
IV 413,268 414,985 1,717
2005: I 434,342 436,444 2,102
II 447,045 449,101 2,056
III 456,957 458,956 1,999
IV 478,105 480,278 2,173
2006: I 503,544 505,587 2,043
II 528,994 532,230 3,236
III 540,586 542,555 1,969
IV 561,880 564,073 2,193
2007: I 579,878 582,062 2,184
II 607,461 610,791 3,330
III 635,412 638,132 2,720
IV 655,515 657,411 1,896
2008: I 667,109 670,832 3,723
II 688,549 692,907 4,358
III 684,836 691,564 6,728
IV 595,046 601,284 6,238
2009: I 521,735 524,276 2,541
II 520,110 522,990 2,880
III 540,729 545,364 4,635
IV 576,426 581,904 5,478
2010: I 600,802 595,359 -5,443
II 614,362 616,163 1,801
III 627,201 632,309 5,108
IV 654,264 656,986 2,722
Imparts of goods and services and income payments
(Credits +, Previously
debits -) (1) published Revised Revision
1999 -1,510,160 -1,513,659 -3,499
2000 -1,779,241 -1,782,832 -3,591
2001 -1,628,364 -1,632,198 -3,834
2002 -1,651,538 -1,655,837 -4,299
2003 -1,789,227 -1,793,223 -3,996
2004 -2,114,441 -2,119,214 -4,773
2005 -2,458,268 -2,464,813 -6,545
2006 -2,846,159 -2,853,549 -7,390
2007 -3,080,813 -3,083,637 -2,824
2008 -3,182,368 -3,207,834 -25,466
2009 -2,412,489 -2,427,804 -15,315
2010 -2,829,383 -2,835,620 -6,237
1999: I -351,384 -352,302 -918
II -366,942 -367,809 -867
III -388,429 -389,266 -837
IV -403,404 -404,283 -879
2000: I -427,435 428,360 -925
II -441,346 -442,215 -869
III -453,930 -454,812 -882
IV -456,532 -457,448 -916
2001: I -442,651 -443,696 -1,045
II -416,573 -417,491 -918
III -400,408 -401,351 -943
IV -368,736 -369,660 -924
2002: I -388,482 -389,616 -1,134
II -415,201 -416,300 -1,099
III -423,203 -424,236 -1,033
IV -424,648 -425,684 -1,036
2003: I -438,915 -440,022 -1,107
II -437,795 -438,819 -1,024
III -447,874 -448,830 -956
IV -464,643 -465,553 -910
2004: I -488,983 -490,218 -1,235
II -521,555 -522,894 -1,339
III -534,087 -535,296 -1,209
IV -569,815 -570,807 -992
2005: I -580,106 -581,819 -1,713
II -600,750 -602,553 -1,803
III -617,365 -618,933 -1,568
IV -660,048 -661,508 -1,460
2006: I -680,987 -682,915 -1,928
II -707,129 -709,192 -2,063
III -730,008 -731,811 -1,803
IV -728,035 -729,632 -1,597
2007: I -745,529 -747,524 -1,995
II -772,733 -771,861 872
III -778,227 -779,067 -840
IV -784,323 -785,184 -861
2008: I -806,180 -814,329 -8,149
II -835,632 -836,822 -1,190
III -827,042 -833,469 -6,427
IV -713,514 -723,214 -9,700
2009: I -587,564 -589,791 -2,227
II -574,265 -575,304 -1,039
III -604,594 -609,953 -5,359
IV X46,066 -852,756 -6,690
2010: I -674,596 -678,617 -4,021
II -703,926 -703,516 410
III -718,456 -717,682 774
IV -732,405 -735,804 -3,399
Unilateral current transfers,
net (inflows +, outflows -)
(Credits +, Previously
debits -) (1) published Revised Revision
1999 -50,428 -50,428 0
2000 -58,645 -58,767 -122
2001 -64,487 -64,561 -74
2002 -64,948 -64,990 -42
2003 -71,794 -71,796 -2
2004 -88,362 -88,243 119
2005 -105,772 -105,741 31
2006 -91,481 -91,515 -34
2007 -115,548 -115,061 487
2008 -122,026 -125,885 -3,859
2009 -124,943 -123,280 1,663
2010 -137,489 -136,095 1,394
1999: I -11,885 -11,885 0
II -12,260 -12,260 0
III -11,987 -11,987 0
IV -14,295 -14,295 0
2000: I -12,859 -12,843 16
II -13,368 -13,348 20
III -14,208 -14,387 -179
IV -18,212 -18,191 21
2001: I -15,171 -15,151 20
II -15,802 -15,782 20
III -16,134 -16,265 -131
IV -17,374 -17,356 18
2002: I -18,542 -18,540 2
II -15,007 -14,988 19
III -15,005 -15,089 -84
IV -16,394 -16,374 20
2003: I -18,219 -18,252 -33
II -17,600 -17,634 -34
III -17,707 -17,676 31
IV -18,269 -18,234 35
2004: I -22,987 -22,941 46
II -21,385 -21,367 18
III -21,141 -21,121 20
IV -22,850 -22,815 35
2005: I -28,723 -28,741 -18
II -25,196 -25,175 21
III -24,658 -24,618 40
IV -27,194 -27,206 -12
2006: I -20,521 -20,516 5
II -23,582 -23,610 -28
III -25,123 -25,141 -18
IV -22,255 -22,248 7
2007: I -32,189 -32,211 -22
II -26,449 -26,481 -32
III -28,126 -28,092 34
IV -28,786 -28,279 507
2008: I -32,928 -33,735 -807
II -29,747 -31,347 -1,600
III -30,177 -31,703 -1,526
IV -29,176 -29,103 73
2009: I -29,747 -29,738 9
II -30,292 -30,497 -205
III -33,638 -33,269 369
IV -31,268 -29,777 1,491
2010: I -34,889 -35,034 -145
II -33,163 -32,947 216
III -34,234 -34,754 -520
IV -35,204 -33,360 1,844
Balance on current account
(Credits +, Previously
debits -) (1) published Revised Revision
1999 -300,779 -301,656 -877
2000 -416,371 -416,338 33
2001 -397,158 -396,603 555
2002 -458,074 -457,248 826
2003 -520,668 -519,089 1,579
2004 -630,488 -628,519 1,969
2005 -747,590 -745,774 1,816
2006 -802,636 -800,621 2,015
2007 -718,094 -710,303 7,791
2008 -668,854 -677,135 -8,281
2009 -378,432 -376,551 1,881
2010 -470,242 -470,898 -656
1999: I -63,086 -63,182 -96
II -71,914 -72,131 -217
III -80,480 -80,857 -377
IV -85,292 -85,483 -191
2000: I -98,611 -98,633 -22
II -99,407 -99,412 -5
III -107,843 -107,903 -60
IV -110,514 -110,394 120
2001: I -107,333 -107,247 86
II -97,407 -97,287 120
III -104,448 -104,359 89
IV -87,966 -87,703 263
2002: I -103,911 -103,794 117
II -115,314 -115,200 114
III -115,812 -115,524 288
IV -123,029 -122,727 302
2003: I -134,883 -134,558 325
II -130,098 -129,817 281
III -129,886 -129,388 498
IV -125,808 -125,334 474
2004: I -136,461 -136,065 396
II -155,914 -155,534 380
III -158,718 -158,286 432
IV -179,398 -178,636 762
2005: I -174,486 -174,116 370
II -178,901 -178,627 274
III -185,066 -184,595 471
IV -209,137 -208,435 702
2006: I -197,964 -197,845 119
II -201,717 -200,572 1,145
III -214,545 -214,397 148
IV -188,411 -187,807 604
2007: I -197,840 -197,673 167
II -191,720 -187,551 4,169
III -170,941 -169,028 1,913
IV -157,593 -156,052 1,541
2008: I -171,999 -177,232 -5,233
II -176,830 -175,262 1,568
III -172,383 -173,608 -1,225
IV -147,644 -151,032 -3,388
2009: I -95,577 -95,253 324
II -84,447 -82,811 1,636
III -97,503 -97,858 -355
IV -100,907 -100,629 278
2010: I -108,683 -118,292 -9,609
II -122,727 -120,300 2,427
III -125,489 -120,127 5,362
IV -113,345 -112,179 1,166
Capital-account transactions,
net (inflows +, outflows-)
(Credits +, Previously
debits -) (1) published Revised Revision
1999 -4,176 -4,176 0
2000 -1 -1 0
2001 13,198 13,198 0
2002 -141 -141 0
2003 -1,821 -1,821 0
2004 3,049 3,049 0
2005 13,116 13,116 0
2006 -1,788 -1,788 0
2007 384 384 0
2008 6,010 6,010 0
2009 -140 -140 0
2010 -150 -152 -2
1999: I -7 -7 0
II -1 -1 0
III -3 -3 0
IV 4,165 -4,165 0
2000: I 0
II 2 2 0
III -10 -10 0
IV 6 6 0
2001: I 0 (*) (*)
II 4 4 0
III 13,188 13,188 0
IV 6 6 0
2002: I 7 7 0
II -2 -2 0
III -69 -69 0
IV -77 -77 0
2003: I -82 -82 0
II -1,252 -1,252 0
III -492 -492 0
IV 5 5 0
2004: I -56 -56 0
II 0
III 3,173 3,173 0
IV -68 -68 0
2005: I -2,160 -2,160 0
II -83 -83 0
III 15,362 15,362 0
IV -3 -3 0
2006: I -1,220 -1,220 0
II -487 -487 0
III -2 -2 0
IV -79 -79 0
2007: I 0 0 0
II 443 443 0
III -57 -57 0
IV -2 -2 0
2008: I -8 -8 0
II -18 -18 0
III 6,043 6,043 0
IV -7 -7 0
2009: I -20 -20 0
II -29 -29 0
III -36 -36 0
IV -56 -56 0
2010: I -3 -3 0
II -2 -2 0
III -146 -146 0
IV 0 -2 -2
Net financial flows (inflows +, outflows-)
(Credits +, Previously
debits -) (1) published Revised Revision
1999 238,148 238,148 0
2000 477,701 477,701 0
2001 400,254 400,254 0
2002 500,515 500,515 0
2003 532,879 532,879 0
2004 532,331 532,331 0
2005 700,716 700,716 0
2006 809,150 809,150 0
2007 638,158 617,260 -20,898
2008 577,852 730,568 152,716
2009 216,075 245,919 29,844
2010 (2) 235,251 254,289 (2) 19,038
1999: I 23,694 23,694 0
II 64,785 64,785 0
III 32,570 32,570 0
IV 117,099 117,099 0
2000: I 35,176 35,176 0
II 139,263 139,263 0
III 160,217 160,217 0
IV 143,045 143,045 0
2001: I 114,573 114,573 0
II 120,165 120,165 0
III 57,084 57,084 0
IV 108,433 108,433 0
2002: I 88,384 88,384 0
II 91,613 91,613 0
III 161,227 161,227 0
IV 159,288 159,288 0
2003: I 158,593 158,593 0
II 60,305 60,305 0
III 128,422 128,422 0
IV 185,563 185,563 0
2004: I 105,507 105,507 0
II 161,128 161,128 0
III 104,685 104,685 0
IV 161,012 161,012 0
2005: I 105,007 105,007 0
II 82,483 82,483 0
III 221,043 221,043 0
IV 292,183 292,183 0
2006: I 159,592 159,592 0
II 197,789 197,789 0
III 245,186 245,186 0
IV 206,583 206,583 0
2007: I 248,176 254,181 6,005
II 173,465 153,165 -20,300
III 75,364 85,857 10,493
IV 141,152 124,056 -17,096
2008: I 169,357 209,946 40,589
II 155,362 155,766 404
III 146,300 180,675 34,375
IV 106,833 184,179 77,346
2009: I 8,031 14,799 6,768
II 14,661 10,360 -4,301
III 77,640 57,915 -19,725
IV 115,742 162,844 47,102
2010: I 34,825 32,482 -2,343
II 31,030 28,079 -2,951
III 136,986 164,388 27,402
IV 232,410 29,340 (2) -3,070
(*) Less than 500,000 (+/-)
(1.) Credits +; U.S. receipts, an increase in U.S. liabilities,
or a decrease in U.S. claims. Debits ; U.S. payments, an increase
in U.S. claims, or a decrease in U.S. liabilities.
(2.) The previously published statistics exclude financial
derivatives, net (table 1, line 70) for the fourth quarter of 2010,
which were not available.
NOTE. Details may not add to totals because of rounding.
Acknowledgments
The revised statistics for the U.S. international accounts were
prepared under the general direction of Paul W. Farello and Christopher
A. Gohrband. Robert E. Yuskavage provided overall guidance.
Revised statistics for the reclassifications of selected services
transactions were prepared by Laura P. Brokenbaugh for cruise fares,
lulie E. Gressley and Gregory A. Tenentes for postal services, and
Jeffrey R. Bogen, Omar C. Kebbeh, and John A. Sondheimer for film and
television distribution rights, all under the direction of Edward F.
Dozier and Michael A. Mann. Statistics for the improved treatment of
expenditures of foreign nationals working for international
organizations in the United States and for the improved treatment of
short-term foreign workers in the United States were prepared by C. Omar
Kebbeh under the direction of Michael A. Mann. Statistics for the
improved treatment of expenditures of U.S. air carriers in foreign ports
were prepared by Gregory A. Tenentes under the direction of Edward F.
Dozier. Benjamin P. Kavanaugh prepared the new estimates of low-value
transactions for goods, and Benjamin P. Kavanaugh and R. Christian
Thieme prepared the seasonally-adjusted balance-of-payments adjustments
for goods, all under the direction of John W. Rutter.
The 2009 benchmark survey of financial services transactions was
conducted by Kiesha V. Middleton under the direction of Christopher J.
Emond. Loft K. Chang prepared revised financial services transactions
under the direction of Christopher A. Gohrband. The 2007 benchmark
survey of foreign direct investment in the United States was conducted
by the staff of Patricia E. Abaroa in the Direct Investment Division
under the direction of David H. Galler.
Elena L. Nguyen, Erin M. Whitaker, and Cavan J. Wilk prepared
financial-account statistics based on the U.S. Treasury
Department's annual surveys of securities; Barbara H. Berman
prepared revised statistics for bank claims and liabilities that reflect
new information on the reclassification of certain financial firms to
bank holding companies; Cavan J. Wilk prepared the estimates for the
recording of income from special drawing rights on a gross basis, all
under the direction of Christopher A. Gohrband.
Updated International Statistical Standards
In 2009, the International Monetary Fund released the sixth edition
of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual.
This update, the first since 1993, was coordinated with an update in
2008 of the System of National Accounts in order to maximize the overall
consistency between these two key sets of international standards for
economic accounts. In addition, the following manuals were also prepared
in coordination with these two sets of standards as part of a concerted
effort to maximize consistency in definitions, concepts, principles, and
recommended practices: the fourth edition of the Benchmark Definition of
Foreign Direct Investment, released by the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development in 2008, and the Manual on Statistics of
International Trade in Services 2010 and the International Merchandise
Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definition 2010, both released by the
United Nations Statistical Commission earlier this year.
(1.) For a discussion of the revisions to the IIP accounts, see
Elena L. Nguyen, "The International Investment Position of the
United States at Yearend 2010" in this issue.
(2.) For a timetable for implementation, including a preview of
planned changes that are reflected in this annual revision, see Kristy
L. Howell and Ned G. Howenstine, "Modernizing and Enhancing
BEA's International Economic Accounts: A Progress Report,"
SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS 91 (May 2011): 26-38.
(3.) Unless otherwise specified, "goods" in this article
refers to goods on a balance-of-payments basis. The statistics on goods
are based on Census Bureau data that are collected by the U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and are
adjusted by BEA for coverage, timing, valuation, and classification to a
balance-of-payments basis.
(4.) Low-value transactions in Census Bureau data are those that
fall below the reporting threshold in customs documents. For exports,
the threshold is $2,500; for imports, the threshold is $2,000 ($250 for
certain quota items).
(5.) The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S.
foreign aid agency created by the U.S. Congress in 2004 to "provide
such assistance in a manner that promotes economic growth and the
elimination of extreme poverty and [that) strengthens good governance,
economic freedom, and investments in people."
(6.) BEA defines and measures insurance services as premiums less
"normal" losses, where normal losses are inferred from the
relationship of actual losses to premiums averaged over several years.
(Income on assets deemed to be the property of policyholders and
services auxiliary to insurance are also reflected in the measure of
insurance services.) For regularly occurring losses, the differences
between actual losses and normal losses are accounted for with
offsetting entries, which are recorded in private remittances and other
transfers, a component of the current account. For additional
information, see Anne Flatness, Erin M. Whitaker, and Robert E.
Yuskavage, "Annual Revision of the U.S. International
Accounts," SURVEY 89 (July 2009): 43-44.
(7.) Net financial derivatives inflows were $13.7 billion in 2010.
Previously published 2010 statistics ($15.1 billion) included only the
first three quarters of 2010 because the fourth-quarter statistics were
not available.
(8.) Nonbank claims and liabilities include intercompany debt
between affiliated financial intermediaries that is collected in surveys
of direct investment and reclassified to the nonbank accounts, as
recommended by international statistical standards.
(9.) Survey data on direct investment affect U.S. claims reported
by banks because owner's equity in unincorporated affiliates is
included in direct investment statistics; bank claims are adjusted to
avoid duplication in the ITAs.
(10.) A negative value indicates that net financial inflows exceed
the combined deficits on the current and capital accounts; a positive
value indicates that the combined deficits on the current and capital
accounts exceed net financial inflows.
(11.) For additional information, see Howell and Howenstine.
(12.) Unless otherwise specified, all line numbers refer to table 1
in the article "U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter
of2011" in this issue.
(13.) Balance of Payments and International Investment Position
Manual, 6th ed. (Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund, 2009).
(14.) According to international guidelines, expenditures on goods
and services in the host economy of nonresident employees of
international organizations should be included in the services account.
(15.) The Pew Hispanic Center is a nonpartisan research
organization that seeks to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic
population.
Table A. Revisions to Current-Account and Capital-Account Balances,
Net Financial Flows, and the Statistical Discrepancy, 1999-2010
[Billions of dollars]
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 1999 2000 2001
Balance on current account
(line 77):
Revised -301.7 -416.3 -396.6
Previously published -300.8 -416.4 -397.2
Amount of revision -0.9 (*) 0.6
Balance on goods and services
(line 74):
Revised -263.2 -376.7 -361.8
Previously published -264.2 -378.8 -364.4
Amount of revision 1.1 2.0 2.6
Balance on goods (line 72):
Revised -336.2 -445.8 -421.3
Previously published -336.3 -446.2 -422.0
Amount of revision 0.1 0.4 0.7
Balance on services (line 73):
Revised 73.0 69.0 59.5
Previously published 72.1 67.5 57.6
Amount of revision 0.9 1.6 1.9
Balance on income (line 75):
Revised 11.9 19.2 29.7
Previously published 13.9 21.1 31.7
Amount of revision -2.0 -1.9 -2.0
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 76):
Revised -50.4 -58.8 -64.6
Previously published -50.4 -58.6 -4.5
Amount of revision 0.0 -0.1 -0.1
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised -4.2 (*) 13.2
Previously published -4.2 (*) 13.2
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
Net financial flows (lines 40,
55, and 70):
Revised 238.1 477.7 400.3
Previously published 238.1 477.7 400.3
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical discrepancy (line 71):
Revised 67.7 -61.4 -16.8
Previously published 66.8 -61.3 -16.3
Amount of revision 0.9 (*) -0.6
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2002 2003 2004
Balance on current account
(line 77):
Revised -457.2 -519.1 -628.5
Previously published -458.1 -520.7 -630.5
Amount of revision 0.8 1.6 2.0
Balance on goods and services
(line 74):
Revised -417.4 -491.0 -605.4
Previously published -420.5 -494.2 -609.3
Amount of revision 3.1 3.2 4.0
Balance on goods (line 72):
Revised -474.5 -540.4 -663.5
Previously published -475.3 -541.5 -665.6
Amount of revision 0.9 1.1 2.1
Balance on services (line 73):
Revised 57.1 49.4 58.2
Previously published 54.8 47.4 56.3
Amount of revision 2.2 2.1 1.9
Balance on income (line 75):
Revised 25.2 43.7 65.1
Previously published 27.4 45.3 67.2
Amount of revision -2.2 -1.6 -2.1
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 76):
Revised -65.0 -71.8 -88.2
Previously published -64.9 -71.8 -88.4
Amount of revision (*) (*) 0.1
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised -0.1 -1.8 3.0
Previously published -0.1 -1.8 3.0
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
Net financial flows (lines 40,
55, and 70):
Revised 500.5 532.9 532.3
Previously published 500.5 532.9 532.3
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical discrepancy (line 71):
Revised -43.1 -12.0 93.1
Previously published -42.3 -10.4 95.1
Amount of revision -0.8 -1.6 -2.0
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2005 2006 2007
Balance on current account
(line 77):
Revised -745.8 -800.6 -710.3
Previously published -747.6 -802.6 -718.1
Amount of revision 1.8 2.0 7.8
Balance on goods and services
(line 74):
Revised -708.6 -753.3 -696.7
Previously published -714.2 -759.2 -702.1
Amount of revision 5.6 6.0 5.4
Balance on goods (line 72):
Revised -780.7 -835.7 -818.9
Previously published -783.8 -839.5 -823.2
Amount of revision 3.1 3.8 4.3
Balance on services (line 73):
Revised 72.1 82.4 122.2
Previously published 69.6 80.2 121.1
Amount of revision 2.5 2.2 1.1
Balance on income (line 75):
Revised 68.6 44.2 101.5
Previously published 72.4 48.1 99.6
Amount of revision -3.8 -3.9 1.9
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 76):
Revised -105.7 -91.5 -115.1
Previously published -105.8 -91.5 -115.5
Amount of revision (*) (*) 0.5
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised 13.1 -1.8 0.4
Previously published 13.1 -1.8 0.4
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
Net financial flows (lines 40,
55, and 70):
Revised 700.7 809.2 617.3
Previously published 700.7 809.2 638.2
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 -20.9
Statistical discrepancy (line 71):
Revised 31.9 -0.7 92.7
Previously published 33.8 -4.7 79.6
Amount of revision -1.8 -2.0 13.1
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2008 2009 2010
Balance on current account
(line 77):
Revised -677.1 -376.6 -470.9
Previously published -668.9 -378.4 -470.2
Amount of revision -8.3 1.9 -0.7
Balance on goods and services
(line 74):
Revised -698.3 -381.3 -500.0
Previously published -698.8 -374.9 -495.7
Amount of revision 0.5 -0.4 -4.3
Balance on goods (line 72):
Revised -830.1 -505.9 -645.9
Previously published -834.7 -506.9 -647.1
Amount of revision 4.5 1.0 1.2
Balance on services (line 73):
Revised 131.8 124.6 145.8
Previously published 135.9 132.0 151.4
Amount of revision -4.1 -7.4 -5.5
Balance on income (line 75):
Revised 147.1 128.0 165.2
Previously published 152.0 121.4 163.0
Amount of revision -4.9 6.6 2.3
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 76):
Revised -125.9 -123.3 -136.1
Previously published -122.0 -124.9 -137.5
Amount of revision -3.9 1.7 1.4
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised 6.0 -0.1 -0.2
Previously published 6.0 -0.1 -0.2
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 (*)
Net financial flows (lines 40,
55, and 70):
Revised 730.6 245.9 254.3
Previously published 577.9 216.1 (2) 235.3
Amount of revision 152.7 29.8 19.0
Statistical discrepancy (line 71):
Revised -59.4 130.8 216.8
Previously published 85.0 162.5 (2) 235.1
Amount of revision -144.4 -31.7 -18.4
(*) Less than 50,000,000 (+/-)
(1.) Credits +; U.S. receipts, an increase in U.S. liabilities, or a
decrease in U.S. claims. Debits ; U.S. payments, an increase in U.S.
claims, or a decrease in U.S. liabilities.
(2.) The previously published statistics exclude financial
derivatives, net (table 1, line 70) for the fourth quarter of 2010,
which were not available.
NOTE. Line numbers refer to table 1 in "U.S. International
Transactions: First Quarter of 2011" in this issue of the SURVEY OF
CURRENT BUSINESS.
Table B. Revisions to Selected Current-Account and Capital-Account
Transactions, 1999-2010
[Billions of dollars]
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 1999 2000 2001
Exports of goods and services
and income receipts
(line 1):
Revised 1,262.4 1,425.3 1,300.2
Previously published 1,259.8 1,421.5 1,295.7
Amount of revision 2.6 3.7 4.5
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 3):
Revised 698.2 784.8 731.2
Previously published 698.0 784.2 730.3
Amount of revision 0.2 0.6 0.9
Services (line 4);
Revised 268.8 288.0 276.5
Previously published 267.9 286.4 274.6
Amount of revision 0.9 1.6 1.9
Income receipts (line 12):
Revised 295.4 352.5 292.4
Previously published 293.9 350.9 290.8
Amount of revision 1.5 1.6 1.6
Imports of goods and services
and income payments
(line 18):
Revised -1,513.7 -1,782.8 -1,632.2
Previously published -1,510.2 -1,779.2 -1,628.4
Amount of revision -3.5 -3.6 3.8
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 20):
Revised -1,034.4 -1,230.6 -1,152.5
Previously published -1,034.3 -1,230.4 -1,152.3
Amount of revision (*) -0.2 -0.2
Services (line 21):
Revised -195.8 -219.0 -217.0
Previously published -195.8 -219.0 -217.0
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income payments (line 29):
Revised -283.5 -333.3 -262.7
Previously published -280.0 -329.9 -259.1
Amount of revision -3.5 -3.4 -3.6
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 35):
Revised -50.4 -58.8 -64.6
Previously published -50.4 -58.6 -4.5
Amount of revision 0.0 -0.1 -0.1
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised -4.2 (*) 13.2
Previously published -4.2 (*) 13.2
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2002 2003 2004
Exports of goods and services
and income receipts
(line 1):
Revised 1,263.6 1,345.9 1,578.9
Previously published 1,258.4 1,340.4 1,572.3
Amount of revision 5.2 5.6 6.6
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 3):
Revised 697.4 729.8 822.0
Previously published 696.3 728.3 819.9
Amount of revision 1.2 1.6 2.1
Services (line 4);
Revised 283.4 293.7 341.2
Previously published 281.2 291.6 338.7
Amount of revision 2.2 2.1 2.5
Income receipts (line 12):
Revised 282.7 322.4 415.8
Previously published 280.9 320.5 413.7
Amount of revision 1.8 2.0 2.1
Imports of goods and services
and income payments
(line 18):
Revised -1,655.8 -1,793.2 -2,119.2
Previously published -1,651.5 -1,789.2 -2,114.4
Amount of revision -4.3 -4.0 -4.8
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 20):
Revised -1,171,9 -1,270.2 -1,485.5
Previously published -1,171.6 -1,269.8 -1,485.5
Amount of revision -0.3 -0.4 (*)
Services (line 21):
Revised -226.4 -244.3 -283.0
Previously published -226.4 -244.3 -282.4
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 -0.6
Income payments (line 29):
Revised -257.5 -278.7 -350.7
Previously published -253.5 -275.1 -346.5
Amount of revision -4.0 -3.6 -4.2
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 35):
Revised -65.0 -71.8 -88.2
Previously published -64.9 -71.8 -88.4
Amount of revision (*) (*) 0.1
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised -0.1 -1.8 3.0
Previously published -0.1 -1.8 3.0
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2005 2006 2007
Exports of goods and services
and income receipts
(line 1):
Revised 1,824.8 2,144.4 2,488.4
Previously published 1,816.4 2,135.0 2,478.3
Amount of revision 8.3 9.4 10.1
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 3):
Revised 911.7 1,039.4 1,164.0
Previously published 909.0 1,035.9 1,160.4
Amount of revision 2.7 3.5 3.6
Services (line 4);
Revised 375.8 420.4 490.6
Previously published 372.2 416.9 488.3,
Amount of revision 3.6 3.5 2.3
Income receipts (line 12):
Revised 537.3 684.6 833.8
Previously published 535.3 682.2 829.6
Amount of revision 2.1 2.4 4.2
Imports of goods and services
and income payments
(line 18):
Revised -2,464.8 -2,853.5 -3,083.6
Previously published -2,458.3 -2,846.2 -3,080.8
Amount of revision -0.5 7.4 2.8
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 20):
Revised -1,692.4 -1,875.1 -1,982.8
Previously published -1,692.8 -1,875.3 -1,983.6
Amount of revision 0.4 0.2 0.7
Services (line 21):
Revised -303.6 -338.0 -368.4
Previously published -302.5 -336.7 -367.2
Amount of revision -1.1 -1.3 -1.2
Income payments (line 29):
Revised -468.7 -640.4 -732.3
Previously published -462.9 -634.1 -730.0
Amount of revision -5.8 -0.3 -2.3
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 35):
Revised -105.7 -91.5 -115.1
Previously published -105.8 -91.5 -115.5
Amount of revision (*) (*) 0.5
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised 13.1 -1.8 0.4
Previously published 13.1 -1.8 0.4
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 0.0
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2008 2009 2010
Exports of goods and services
and income receipts
(line 1):
Revised 2,656.6 2,174.5 2,500.8
Previously published 2,635.5 2,159.0 2,496.6
Amount of revision 21.0 15.5 4.2
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 3):
Revised 1,307.5 1,069.5 1,288.7
Previously published 1,304.9 1,068.5 1,288.7
Amount of revision 2.6 1.0 (*)
Services (line 4);
Revised 535.2 505.5 548.9
Previously published 534.1 502.3 545.5
Amount of revision 1.1 3.2 3.4
Income receipts (line 12):
Revised 813.9 599.5 663.2
Previously published 796.5 588.2 662.5
Amount of revision 17.4 11.3 0.8
Imports of goods and services
and income payments
(line 18):
Revised -3,207.8 -2,427.8 -2,835.6
Previously published -3,182.4 -2,412.5 -2,829.4
Amount of revision -25.5 -15.3 -6.2
Goods, balance of payments
basis (line 20):
Revised -2,137.6 -1,575.4 -1,934.6
Previously published -2,139.5 -1,575.4 -1,935.7
Amount of revision 1.9 (*) 1.2
Services (line 21):
Revised -403.4 -380.9 -403.0
Previously published -398.3 -370.3 -394.2
Amount of revision -5.1 -10.6 -8.9
Income payments (line 29):
Revised -666.8 -471.5 -498.0
Previously published -644.6 -466.8 -499.5
Amount of revision -22.3 -4.7 1.5
Unilateral current transfers,
net (line 35):
Revised -125.9 -123.3 -136.1
Previously published -122.0 -124.9 -137.5
Amount of revision -3.9 1.7 1.4
Capital-account transactions,
net (line 39):
Revised 6.0 -0.1 -0.2
Previously published 6.0 -0.1 -0.2
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0 (*)
(*) Less than 50,000,000 (+/-)
(1.) Credits +; U.S. receipts, an increase in U.S. liabilities, or a
decrease in U.S. claims. Debits ; U.S. payments, an increase in U.S,
claims, or a decrease in U.S. liabilities.
NOTE. Line numbers refer to table 1 in "U.S. International
Transactions: First Quarter of 2011" in this issue of the
SURVEY of CURRENT BUSINESS.
Table C. Revisions to Selected Financial-Account
Transactions, 2007-2010
[Billions of dollars]
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2007 2008
U.S. owned assets abroad, excluding financial
derivatives (increase/financial outflow (-))
(line 40):
Revised -1,453.6 332.1
Previously published -1,475.7 156.1
Amount of revision. 22.1 176.0
U.S. private assets abroad
Direct investment (line 51):
Revised -414.0 -329.1
Previously published -414.0 -351.1
Amount of revision (*) 22.1
Foreign securities (line 52):
Revised -366.5 197.3
Previously published -366.5 197.9
Amount of revision 0.0 -0.6
U.S. claims on unaffiliated foreigners
reported by U.S. nonbanking concerns
(line 53):
Revised -0.9 456.2
Previously published -23.1 421.2
Amount of revision 22.2 35.0
U.S. claims reported by U.S. banks,
not included elsewhere (line 54):
Revised -649.7 542.1
Previously published -649.7 422.6
Amount of revision 0.0 119.5
Foreign-owned assets in the United States,
excluding financial derivatives
(increase/financial inflow (+)) (line 55):
Revised 2,064.6 431.4
Previously published 2,107.7 454.7
Amount of revision -43.0 -23.3
Foreign official assets in the United States
U.S. Treasury securities (line 58):
Revised 98.4 548.7
Previously published 98.4 548.7
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0
Other U.S. government securities (line 59):
Revised 171.5 42.7
Previously published 171.5 42.7
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0
Other foreign official assets (line 62):
Revised 96.7 103.9
Previously published 96.7 103.9
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0
Other foreign assets in the United States
Direct investment (line 64):
Revised 221.2 310.1
Previously published 271.2 328.3
Amount of revision -50.0 -18.2
U.S. Treasury securities (line 65):
Revised 66.8 162.9
Previously published 66.8 161.4
Amount of revision 0.0 1.5
U.S. securities other than U.S. Treasury
securities (line 66):
Revised 605.4 -165.6
Previously published 605.4 -166.5
Amount of revision 0.0 0.9
U.S. liabilities to unaffiliated foreigners
reported by U.S. nonbanking concerns
(line 68):
Revised 183.2 -31.5
Previously published 182.4 -36.5
Amount of revision 0.9 5.0
U.S. liabilities reported by U.S. banks,
not included elsewhere (line 69):
Revised 517.6 -428.3
Previously published 511.5 -412.0
Amount of revision 6.2 -16.4
Financial derivatives, net (line 70):
Revised 6.2 -32.9
Previously published 6.2 -32.9
Amount of revision 0.0 0.0
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2009 2010
U.S. owned assets abroad, excluding financial
derivatives (increase/financial outflow (-))
(line 40):
Revised -139.3 -1,005.2
Previously published -140.5 -1,024.7
Amount of revision. 1.1 19.5
U.S. private assets abroad
Direct investment (line 51):
Revised -303.6 -351.4
Previously published -268.7 -345.6
Amount of revision -34.9 -5.7
Foreign securities (line 52):
Revised -226.8 -151.9
Previously published -208.2 -167.2
Amount of revision -18.6 15.2
U.S. claims on unaffiliated foreigners
reported by U.S. nonbanking concerns
(line 53):
Revised 144.9 7.4
Previously published 124.4 1.5
Amount of revision 20.4 5.9
U.S. claims reported by U.S. banks,
not included elsewhere (line 54):
Revised -242.9 -515.0
Previously published -277.1 -519.1
Amount of revision 34.2 4.1
Foreign-owned assets in the United States,
excluding financial derivatives
(increase/financial inflow (+)) (line 55):
Revised 335.8 1,245.7
Previously published 305.7 1,244.8
Amount of revision 30.1 0.9
Foreign official assets in the United States
U.S. Treasury securities (line 58):
Revised 569.9 397.8
Previously published 561.1 374.1
Amount of revision 8.8 23.7
Other U.S. government securities (line 59):
Revised -132.6 -80.8
Previously published -120.1 -77.0
Amount of revision -12.5 -3.8
Other foreign official assets (line 62):
Revised 53.6 30.0
Previously published 21.9 -2.0
Amount of revision 31.8 32.0
Other foreign assets in the United States
Direct investment (line 64):
Revised 158.6 236.2
Previously published 134.7 194.5
Amount of revision 23.9 41.8
U.S. Treasury securities (line 65):
Revised -14.9 256.4
Previously published 22.8 306.4
Amount of revision -37.7 -50.0
U.S. securities other than U.S. Treasury
securities (line 66):
Revised 4.0 120.5
Previously published 0.1 175.4
Amount of revision 3.9 -55.0
U.S. liabilities to unaffiliated foreigners
reported by U.S. nonbanking concerns
(line 68):
Revised 12.4 77.5
Previously published -1.5 50.0
Amount of revision 13.9 27.5
U.S. liabilities reported by U.S. banks,
not included elsewhere (line 69):
Revised -317.1 177.1
Previously published -313.0 192.2
Amount of revision -4.1 -15.1
Financial derivatives, net (line 70):
Revised 49.5 13.7
Previously published 50.8 215.1
Amount of revision -1.3 -1.4
(*) Less than 50,000,000 (+/-)
(1.) Credits +; U.S receipts, an increase in U.S. liabilities, or a
decrease in U.S. claims. Debits ; U.S. payments, an increase in U.S.
claims, or a decrease in U.S. liabilities.
(2.) The previously published statistics exclude financial
derivatives, net (table 1, line 70) for the fourth quarter of 2010,
which were not available.
NOTE. Line numbers refer to table 1 in "U.S. International
Transactions: First Quarter of 2011" in this issue of the
SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS.
Table D. Sources of Revisions for Selected Current-Account
Transactions: Exports of Services and Income Receipts, 1999-2010
[Billions of dollars]
Amount of revision
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 1999 2000 2001
Exports of services (line 4) 0.9 1.6 1.9
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) -1.5 -1.4 -1.5
Statistical changes (3) 2.4 3.0 3.4
Travel (line 6) 0.4 0.5 0.7
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 0.4 0.5 0.7
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Passenger fares (line 7) -0.4 -0.5 -0.7
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -0.4 -0.5 -0.7
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other transportation (line 8) 0.2 0.2 0.3
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.2 0.2 0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Royalties and license fees (line 9) 8.1 8.6 8.8
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 8.1 8.6 8.8
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other private services (line 10) -7.1 -7.1 -6.9
Reclassification of distribution -8.1 -8.6 -8.8
rights for film and television
recordings (2)
Exclusion of U.S. expenditures of
foreign nationals working at
international organizations in
the United States (2) -1.5 -1.4 -1.5
Statistical changes (3) 2.4 2.8 3.3
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 11) -0.2 -0.2 -0.3
Reclassification of postal
services (2) -0.2 -0.2 -0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income receipts (line 12) 1.5 1.6 1.6
Changes in definitions 1.5 1.6 1.6
and classifications (2)
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
U.S. government receipts (line 16) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Compensation of employees (line 17) 1.5 1.6 1.6
Inclusion of compensation of
foreign nationals working
at international organizations
in the United States (2) 1.5 1.6 1.6
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Amount of revision
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2002 2003 2004
Exports of services (line 4) 2.2 2.1 2.5
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) -1.3 -1.1 -1.0
Statistical changes (3) 3.5 3.2 3.4
Travel (line 6) 0.8 0.8 0.9
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 0.8 0.8 0.9
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Passenger fares (line 7) -0.8 -0.8 -0.9
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -0.8 -0.8 -0.9
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other transportation (line 8) 0.2 0.2 0.3
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.2 0.2 0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Royalties and license fees (line 9) 9.4 9.8 10.4
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 9.4 9.8 10.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other private services (line 10) -7.2 -7.8 -7.8
Reclassification of distribution -9.4 -9.8 -10.4
rights for film and television
recordings (2)
Exclusion of U.S. expenditures of
foreign nationals working at
international organizations in
the United States (2) -1.3 -1.1 -1.0
Statistical changes (3) 3.5 3.2 3.6
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 11) -0.2 -0.2 -0.3
Reclassification of postal
services (2) -0.2 -0.2 -0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income receipts (line 12) 1.8 2.0 2.1
Changes in definitions 1.8 2.0 2.0
and classifications (2)
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 (*) (*)
U.S. government receipts (line 16) 0.0 0.1 0.1
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) 0.0 0.1 0.1
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 (*) (*)
Compensation of employees (line 17) 1.8 1.9 1.9
Inclusion of compensation of
foreign nationals working
at international organizations
in the United States (2) 1.8 1.9 1.9
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Amount of revision
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2005 2006 2007
Exports of services (line 4) 3.6 3.5 2.3
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) -1.0 -1.0 -1.1
Statistical changes (3) 4.6 4.5 3.4
Travel (line 6) 0.4 0.4 0.5
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 0.4 0.4 0.5
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Passenger fares (line 7) -0.4 -0.4 -0.5
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -0.4 -0.4 -0.5
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other transportation (line 8) 0.3 0.3 0.3
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.3 0.3 0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Royalties and license fees (line 9) 10.1 12.8 13.2
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 10.1 12.8 14.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 -1.2
Other private services (line 10) -6.4 -9.2 -10.8
Reclassification of distribution -10.1 -12.8 -14.4
rights for film and television
recordings (2)
Exclusion of U.S. expenditures of
foreign nationals working at
international organizations in
the United States (2) -1.0 -1.0 -1.1
Statistical changes (3) 4.6 4.6 4.7
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 11) -0.3 -0.3 -0.3
Reclassification of postal
services (2) -0.3 -0.3 -0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income receipts (line 12) 2.1 2.4 4.2
Changes in definitions 2.1 2.2 2.3
and classifications (2)
Statistical changes (3) (*) 0.2 2.0
U.S. government receipts (line 16) 0.2 0.3 0.3
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) 0.2 0.3 0.3
Statistical changes (3) (*) (*) (*)
Compensation of employees (line 17) 1.9 2.1 2.1
Inclusion of compensation of
foreign nationals working
at international organizations
in the United States (2) 1.9 2.0 2.0
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.2 0.2
Amount of revision
(Credits +, debits -) (1) 2008 2009 2010
Exports of services (line 4) 1.1 3.2 3.4
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) -1.0 -1.0 -1.0
Statistical changes (3) 2.1 4.2 4.4
Travel (line 6) 0.4 0.3 0.4
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 0.4 0.4 0.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 -0.1 (*)
Passenger fares (line 7) -0.4 -0.3 -0.4
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -0.4 -0.4 -0.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.1 (*)
Other transportation (line 8) 0.3 0.1 0.1
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.3 0.3 0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 -0.1 -0.2
Royalties and license fees (line 9) 8.2 7.4 9.8
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 13.2 13.7 13.5
Statistical changes (3) -5.0 -0.3 -3.8
Other private services (line 10) -0.9 -3.5 -6.3
Reclassification of distribution -13.2 -13.7 -13.5
rights for film and television
recordings (2)
Exclusion of U.S. expenditures of
foreign nationals working at
international organizations in
the United States (2) -1.0 -1.0 -1.0
Statistical changes (3) 7.3 11.2 8.3
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 11) -0.3 -0.3 -0.3
Reclassification of postal
services (2) -0.3 -0.3 -0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 (*)
Income receipts (line 12) 17.4 11.3 0.8
Changes in definitions 2.2 2.1 2.2
and classifications (2)
Statistical changes (3) 15.2 9.2 -1.4
U.S. government receipts (line 16) 0.2 0.1 0.2
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) 0.2 0.1 0.2
Statistical changes (3) (*) (*) (*)
Compensation of employees (line 17) 2.1 2.2 2.2
Inclusion of compensation of
foreign nationals working
at international organizations
in the United States (2) 2.0 2.1 2.1
Statistical changes (3) 0.2 0.2 0.1
(*) Less than 50,000,000 (+/-)
(1.) Credits +; U.S receipts, an increase in U.S. liabilities,
or a decrease in U.S. claims. Debits ; U.S. payments, an increase
in U.S. claims, or a decrease in U.S. liabilities.
(2.) Revision includes the effect of updated source data.
(3.) Changes in methodologies and source data.
NOTE. Line numbers refer to table 1 in "U.S. International
Transactions: First Quarter of 2011" in this issue of the
SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS.
Table E. Sources of Revisions for Selected Current-Account
Transactions: Imports of Services and Income Payments, 1999-2010
[Billions of dollars]
Amount of revision
(Credits debits -) (1) 1999 2000 2001
Imports of services (line 21) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Travel (line 23) -0.4 -0.7 -0.7
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -0.4 -0.7 -0.7
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Passenger fares (line 24) 0.4 0.7 0.7
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 0.4 0.7 0.7
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other transportation (line 25) -0.5 -0.5 -0.4
Reclassification of postal services -0.5 -0.5 -0.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Royalties and license fees (line 26) -0.2 -0.1 -0.1
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) -0.2 -0.1 -0.1
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other private services (line 27) 0.2 0.1 0.1
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 0.2 0.1 0.1
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 28) 0.5 0.5 0.4
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.5 0.5 0.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income payments (line 29) -3.5 -3.4 -0.6
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) -3.5 -3.4 -3.6
U.S. government payments (line 33) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Compensation of employees (line 34) -3.5 -3.4 -3.6
Changes in definitions
and classifications 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) -3.5 -3.4 -3.6
Amount of revision
(Credits debits -) (1) 2002 2003 2004
Imports of services (line 21) 0.0 0.0 -0.6
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 -0.6
Travel (line 23) -0.8 -0.9 -1.0
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -0.8 -0.9 -1.0
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Passenger fares (line 24) 0.8 0.9 1.0
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 0.8 0.9 1.0
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other transportation (line 25) -0.4 -0.4 1.2
Reclassification of postal services -0.4 -0.4 -0.6
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 -0.6
Royalties and license fees (line 26) -0.1 -0.2 -0.4
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) -0.1 -0.2 -0.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other private services (line 27) 0.1 0.2 0.4
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 0.1 0.2 0.4
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 28) 0.4 0.4 0.6
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.4 0.4 0.6
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income payments (line 29) -4.0 -3.6 -0.2
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) 0.0 -0.1 -0.1
Statistical changes (3) -4.0 -3.5 -4.1
U.S. government payments (line 33) 0.0 -0.1 -0.1
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) 0.0 -0.1 -0.1
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Compensation of employees (line 34) -4.0 -3.5 -4.1
Changes in definitions
and classifications 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) -4.0 -3.5 -4.1
Amount of revision
(Credits debits -) (1) 2005 2006 2007
Imports of services (line 21) -1.1 -1.3 -1.2
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) -1.1 -1.3 -1.2
Travel (line 23) -1.0 -0.9 -0.8
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -1.0 -0.9 -0.8
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Passenger fares (line 24) 1.0 0.9 0.8
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 1.0 0.9 0.8
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other transportation (line 25) 1.7 1.9 2.3
Reclassification of postal services -0.6 -0.6 -0.6
Statistical changes (3) -1.1 -1.2 -1.7
Royalties and license fees (line 26) -1.0 -1.5 -1.5
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) -1.0 -1.5 -1.5
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Other private services (line 27) 1.0 1.5 2.0
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 1.0 1.5 1.5
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 -0.1 0.5
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 28) 0.6 0.6 0.6
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.6 0.6 0.6
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income payments (line 29) -0.8 -0.3 -2.3
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) -0.2 -0.3 -0.3
Statistical changes (3) -5.7 0.0 -2.0
U.S. government payments (line 33) -0.2 -0.3 -0.3
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) -0.2 -0.3 -0.3
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Compensation of employees (line 34) -5.7 -6.0 -4.7
Changes in definitions
and classifications 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) -5.7 -6.0 4.7
Amount of revision
(Credits debits -) (1) 2008 2009 2010
Imports of services (line 21) -5.1 -10.6 -8.9
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) -5.1 -10.6 -8.9
Travel (line 23) -0.8 -0.9 -0.9
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) -0.8 -0.8 -1.1
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 (*) 0.2
Passenger fares (line 24) 0.7 0.8 0.8
Reclassification of cruise fares (2) 0.8 0.8 1.1
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 -0.3
Other transportation (line 25) 3.0 1.0 2.2
Reclassification of postal services -0.6 -0.5 -0.5
Statistical changes (3) -2.4 -0.6 -1.8
Royalties and license fees (line 26) -3.8 -4.6 -4.2
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) -1.8 -1.9 -1.8
Statistical changes (3) -2.0 -2.7 -2.5
Other private services (line 27) 1.1 -5.4 -2.9
Reclassification of distribution
rights for film and television
recordings (2) 1.8 1.9 1.8
Statistical changes (3) -0.7 -7.4 -4.6
U.S. government miscellaneous
services (line 28) 0.6 0.5 0.5
Reclassification of postal
services (2) 0.6 0.5 0.5
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 0.0 (*)
Income payments (line 29) -22.3 -4.7 1.5
Changes in definitions
and classifications (2) -0.2 -0.1 -0.2
Statistical changes (3) -22.1 -4.6 1.6
U.S. government payments (line 33) -0.2 -0.4 5.7
Recording of income on holdings
and allocations of special
drawing rights on a gross
basis (2) -0.2 -0.1 -0.2
Statistical changes (3) 0.0 -0.3 5.8
Compensation of employees (line 34) -5.6 -3.5 -3.1
Changes in definitions
and classifications 0.0 0.0 0.0
Statistical changes (3) -5.6 -3.5 -3.1
(*) Less than 50,000,000 (+/-)
(1.) Credits +; U.S receipts, an increase in U.S. liabilities,
or a decrease in U.S. claims. Debits -; U.S. payments, an increase
in U.S. claims, or a decrease in U.S. liabilities.
(2.) Revision includes the effect of updated source data.
(3.) Changes in methodologies and source data.
NOTE. Line numbers refer to table 1 in "U.S. International
Transactions: First Quarter of 2011" in this issue of the
SURVEY OF CURRENT BUSINESS.