Context: Bernanke explained that between 1996 and 2004, the U.S. current account deficit increased by $650 billion, from 1.5% to 5.8% of GDP. Financing these deficits required the country to borrow large sums from abroad, much of it from countries running trade surpluses. These were mainly the emerging economies in Asia and oil-exporting nations. The balance of payments identity requires that a country (such as the U.S.) running a current account deficit also have a capital account (investment) surplus of the same amount. Hence large and growing amounts of foreign funds (capital) flowed into the U.S. to finance its imports.

Question: Per Bernanke, how much did the U.S. current account deficit increase between 1996 and 2004?
Answer: $650 billion

Question: What percentage of GDP was the U.S. current account deficit in 2004?
Answer: 5.8%

Question: What emerging economies did the U.S. borrow money from between 1996 and 2004 to finance its imports?
Answer: Asia and oil-exporting nations

Question: What type account is needed by the U.S. to balance an account deficit?
Answer: capital account

Question: Where did the U.S. obtain capital to finance its imports?
Answer: foreign funds