Foreign Direct Investors’ Outlays in US

In 2005, outlays by foreign direct investors to acquire or establish U.S. businesses were $86.8 billion, little changed from the $86.2 billion in outlays in 2004. Outlays remained considerably below those in 1998-2001, when new investment outlays were historically high, ranging from $147.1 billion to $335.6 billion.

Outlays increased substantially in manufacturing, information, and depository institutions. Together, these three sectors accounted for 58 percent of total outlays. The increase in information was the first increase since 1999. Outlays in finance (except depository institutions) and insurance declined sharply, by $20.0 billion, or 76 percent.

Outlays from Europe increased substantially, particularly those by investors in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. Outlays from the Asia and Pacific and Middle East regions also increased substantially. For the Asia and Pacific region, the increase was largely accounted for by Japanese and Australian investments. These increases were partly offset by a decline in investment outlays from Canada, where outlays had risen sharply in 2004.

Read more here.