U.S. international transactions in 1996

Abstract

After stabilizing in 1995, the U.S. current account deficit widened in 1996 to $165 billion. The deficit increased sharply in the first three quarters of the year, but, because of strong export growth, narrowed significantly in the fourth quarter. The widening of the deficit by$17 billion was the net result of moderate-to-strong growth in all the key components of the current account: exports and imports of goods and services, income from U.S. and foreign portfolio and direct investments, and net unilateral transfers.Investments, Foreign ; International economic relations ; International trade