The U.S. flow of funds accounts and their uses

The U.S. flow of funds accounts compiled by the Board of Governors provide a broadly consistent set of time-series data for tracking funds as they move from economic sectors that serve as sources of capital to sectors that use the capital to acquire physical and financial assets. They present a wide range of data organized by financial instrument and by sector. With statistics extending back more than a half a century, the accounts document financial developments, provide means for studying macroeconomic behavior, and are used for policy purposes. This article briefly describes the accounts and shows how the data can be used to interpret major financial trends among households and nonfinancial corporate businesses.