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| Jan 05 2023

  U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed Markedly in November

  • Deficit was the narrowest since September 2020.

  • Both exports and imports fell.

  • Largest decline in nonpetroleum imports since COVID lockdown.

  • Even with big narrowing in November, trade on course to be a drag on overall GDP growth in Q4.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Jan 04 2023

  U.S. ISM Manufacturing Index Fell Further in December

  • Production index fell into contraction territory for the first time in 2-1/2 years.

  • New orders fell to the weakest level since May 2020.

  • Raw materials prices fell for third straight month and delivery times were faster.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Dec 27 2022

  U.S. FHFA House Prices Unchanged in October

  • FHFA HPI was unchanged in October following an unrevised slight +0.1% m/m increase in September after monthly declines in the preceding two months.

  • House prices fell in five of the nine census divisions and rose in the other four.

  • Largest decline in the Pacific region; largest increase in New England.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Dec 22 2022

  U.S. Q3 GDP Growth Revised Up Further in Third Estimate

  • The second estimate of a 2.9% q/q saar increase in real GDP in Q3 was revised up to 3.2%.

  • Upward revision spread across domestic demand components; inventories a larger drag.

  • Corporate profits revised to unchanged in Q3 from initially reported 1.1% q/q decline, led by big upward revision to domestic profits.

  • Quarterly rise in GDP price index revised up a tick to 4.4% from 4.3%.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Dec 15 2022

  U.S. Industrial Production Posts another Decline in November

  • Significant declines in manufacturing and mining production.

  • Utilities output rebounded.

  • Capacity utilization slipped for second consecutive month.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Dec 15 2022

  Empire State Manufacturing Index Falls in December

  • Headline index re-enters contraction territory after brief emergence in November.

  • Orders continued to slip while shipments slowed.

  • Delivery times little changed, remain near normal.

  • Employment continued to increase.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Dec 13 2022

  NFIB Small Business Optimism Index Edges Up in November

  • Small increase in December but index still remains well below long-term average.

  • Inflation remains top business concern.

  • Expectations of improved conditions over the next six months increased but remained deeply negative.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Nov 30 2022

  U.S. Q3 GDP Growth Revised Up in Second Estimate

  • The initially reported 2.6% q/q saar increase in real GDP in Q3 was revised up to 2.9%.
  • Outsized boost from trade revised even larger; inventories a larger drag.
  • Corporate profits slipped 1.1% q/q in Q3 after a strong 4.6% jump in Q2.
  • Quarterly rise in GDP price index revised up to 4.3% from 4.1% initially.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Nov 23 2022

  U.S. Durable Goods Orders Post Solid Rise in October

  • Orders increased a larger-than-expected 1.0% m/m and 0.5% excluding transportation.
  • Total manufacturing shipments rose 0.7% m/m.
  • Both core capital goods shipments and orders bounced back in October after declines in September.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Nov 16 2022

  U.S. Industrial Production Slipped in October

  • Manufacturing output edged up with a downward revision to September.
  • Mining and utilities production each fell in October.
  • Capacity utilization slipped from a near-expansion high.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Nov 16 2022

  U.S. Import and Export Prices Fell Further in October

  • The fourth consecutive monthly decline for each.
  • Y/Y rates of advance have declined by more than half over the past four months.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Nov 10 2022

  U.S. Housing Affordability Declines in September

  • Rise in mortgage rates more than offset decline in home prices.
  • Mortgage payment overall and as a percent of income rose.
  • Affordability continued to fall sharply from a year ago.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief