In the 2008 global financial crisis, many investors considered the U.S. economy a safe place to move their assets. In the 2^nd half of 2008, the United States recorded a capital and financial account surplus, as results from Figure 1.

Figure 1. U.S. capital and financial account balance (USD million, monthly values)

300000 200000 100000 -100000 -200000 2007 2008 2009 2010 SOURCE: TRADINGECONOMICS.COM | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY