Introducing

Sandy Batten

Sandy Batten has more than 30 years of experience analyzing industrial economies and financial markets and a wide range of experience across the financial services sector, government, and academia.   Before joining Haver Analytics, Sandy was a Vice President and Senior Economist at Citibank; Senior Credit Market Analyst at CDC Investment Management, Managing Director at Bear Stearns, and Executive Director at JPMorgan.   In 2008, Sandy was named the most accurate US forecaster by the National Association for Business Economics. He is a member of the New York Forecasters Club, NABE, and the American Economic Association.   Prior to his time in the financial services sector, Sandy was a Research Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Senior Staff Economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the US Treasury, and Economist at the International Monetary Fund. Sandy has taught economics at St. Louis University, Denison University, and Muskingun College. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in a wide range of academic publications. He has a B.A. in economics from the University of Richmond and a M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from The Ohio State University.  

Publications by Sandy Batten

• 

  USA| Nov 21 2024

  U.S. Existing Homes Sales Rebounded in October

  • Sales rose 3.4% m/m after declining in each of the previous two months.
  • Year-ago sales increased 2.9%, the first positive annual reading since July 2021.
  • Monthly sales rose in all four major regions.
  • The median price increased 4.0% from a year ago.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Nov 15 2024

  U.S. Empire State Manufacturing Index Soars in November

  • The headline index jumped up 43.1 points to highest reading in nearly three years.
  • Led by outsized gains in new orders and shipments.
  • Delivery times were slightly longer.
  • Labor market indicators were more lackluster.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Nov 13 2024

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Edge Up in November 8 Week

  • Applications edged up 0.5% w/w after having declined for six consecutive weeks.
  • Refinancing applications continued to fall while purchase applications rebounded.
  • Mortgage interest rates rose slightly.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Oct 31 2024

  Rise of U.S. Employment Cost Index Slows Further in Q3

  • The pace of growth in employment costs slowed to multiyear lows in Q3.
  • While still elevated relative to pre-pandemic readings, the trend in employment costs is clearly down.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Oct 29 2024

  U.S. Job Openings Fall More Than Expected in September

  • Openings fell more than 400k to the lowest level since January 2021 with a sizable downward revision to August.
  • Layoffs jumped 165k to 1.833 million, the highest level since January 2023.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Oct 24 2024

  U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Fell Again in Week of October 19

  • Claims totaled 227,000, down a more-than-expected 15,000 from the previous week.
  • Decline reflected some normalization after the hurricane-induced surge in early October.
  • Continuing claims (reported with a one-week lag) rose sharply.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Oct 17 2024

  Philly Fed Manufacturing Index Rises Further in October

  • The headline index rose more than expected to 10.3 from 1.7.
  • The increase was rather widespread with the ISM-adjusted index rising to 52.7.
  • New orders and shipments components indexes rebound from negative readings in September to positive in October.
  • The employment component index fell back into negative territory in October after a solid increase in September.
  • Capital spending expectations rise markedly.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Oct 17 2024

  U.S. Business Inventories Rose While Sales Fell in August

  • Inventories increased 0.3%, led by retailers.
  • Sales declined, led by factory sales.
  • Inventory/sales ratio stuck in a range.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Oct 01 2024

  U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI Remained in Contraction Territory in September

  • The headline index was below the boom-bust 50 level for sixth consecutive month.
  • New orders and production indexes increased but remained below 50.
  • The employment index fell to further below 50.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Sep 26 2024

  Q2 2024 U.S. GDP Unrevised in Third Estimate

  • GDP grew at a solid 3.0% q/q SAAR in the third estimate of Q2, unrevised from the second estimate.
  • Q2 PCE, fixed investment revised slightly weaker.
  • Bigger boost from inventories; bigger drag from trade in Q2.
  • In the benchmark revisions back to 2019, GDP and PCE growth were notably stronger, especially in each of the past three years.
  • Meaningful upward revisions to both corporate profits and personal income over the past several years.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Sep 19 2024

  U.S. Existing Home Sales Fell in August

  • Second lowest level since October 2010.
  • Sales fell in the South, West, and Northeast, while the Midwest registered no change.
  • The median price fell for the second consecutive month, but from a record high in June.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Sep 19 2024

  U.S. Current Account Deficit Widened Markedly in Q2 2024

  • Second largest deficit on record.
  • Goods deficit key factor, widening by more than $20 billion.
  • Services surplus essentially unchanged.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief