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| Aug 25 2022

  Smaller Decline in US Q2 GDP upon Revision

  • Real GDP fell 0.6% q/q saar in Q2 on the second estimate vs the initially reported 0.9% decline.
  • Consumption spending revised up; slowdown in inventory spending revised lower.
  • Corporate profits jumped 6.1% q/q, more than offsetting their Q1 decline.
  • Rise in GDP price index revised up to 8.9% from 8.7% initially.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Aug 18 2022

  U.S. Index of Leading Indicators Fell Again in July

  • July decline was the sixth in the past seven months, pointing to rising recession risks.

  • Coincident indicators increased for the second consecutive month.

  • Lagging indicators growth slowed.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Aug 17 2022

  U.S. Business Inventories and Sales Rose in June

  • Inventories continued to build, but slightly more slowly.

  • Sales growth picked up.

  • Inventory-to-sales ratio unchanged.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Aug 10 2022

  U.S. CPI Unchanged in July with Drop in Energy Prices

  • Headline index was unchanged, lowest monthly reading since May 2020, due mostly to 4.6% m/m decline in energy prices.

  • Food prices posted another sharp increase, the seventh consecutive monthly increase of 0.9% or more.

  • Increase in core prices still relatively broadly based, led by shelter.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Aug 09 2022

  U.S. Small Business Optimism Edged Up in July

  • This was the first monthly increase in 2022, but optimism still remains quite low.

  • Index of expectations for the next six months rebounded from series low in June.

  • Six of the 10 index components fell in July.

  • Inflation is the biggest major concern, highest since 1979.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jul 29 2022

  U.S. Income, Spending Gains Wiped Out by Inflation in June

  • Nominal income and spending posted solid gains in June.

  • But these were mostly neutralized by stronger-than-expected price increases.

  • Income gains led by wages, owing to still-tight labor market.

  • Monthly and annual inflation picked up, led by food and energy prices, but is broadening.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jul 28 2022

  U.S. Unemployment Claims Fell but Remain on Uptrend

  • Initial claims decreased 5,000 to 256,000 in the July 23 week.

  • But previous week was revised up 10,000.

  • Continued claims fell 25,000 in the week of July 16.

  • The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.0%.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jul 27 2022

  U.S. Goods Trade Deficit Narrows in June

  • Lowest deficit since last November.

  • Exports post fifth consecutive monthly rise while imports fell for third consecutive month.

  • Marked narrowing in Q2 deficit points to meaningful contribution from net exports to Q2 GDP.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jul 20 2022

  U.S. Existing Home Sales Fall for Fifth Straight Month

  • Declining affordability continued to depress sales.

  • Three of the four major regions posted monthly declines; all posted yearly declines.

  • Median sales price rose to another record high.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jul 19 2022

  U.S. Housing Starts Fall Further in June

  • Starts level is lowest since September 2021.

  • Building permits edged down to nine-month low.

  • Single family starts and permits fell while multi-family rebounded.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jul 13 2022

  Another Disappointing U.S. Consumer Prices Report

  • Headline index jumped up 1.3% m/m, led by surging food and energy prices.

  • Annual headline rate rose to highest since November 1981.

  • Increase in core prices broadly based.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jul 12 2022

  Small Business Expectations Hit All-time Low

  • NFIB Optimism Index fell in June to 89.5, its lowest reading since early 2013.

  • Index of expectations for the next six months fell to a series low.

  • Each of the 10 index components fell.

  • Inflation is the most major concern, highest level of concern since late 1980.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief