Foreign direct investment in the United States totaled $68.7 billion in the fourth-quarter of 2019. While that is more than double the FDIUS flows of $32 billion in the previous quarter, it was not a particularly strong quarter relative to the past few years. Net equity flows increased more than threefold to $48 billion in fourth-quarter 2019, compared to inward investment from the third quarter.
Foreign direct investment in the United States amounted to $261 billion in 2019, making it the fifth-strongest year for FDIUS over the past decade. However, it was dwarfed by two record-breaking years of FDIUS recorded in 2015 and 2016, at $482 billion and $486 billion, respectively. While the United States remains an attractive investment location, global competition for foreign investment dollars is increasing as developing countries position themselves as investment destinations.
