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 13 2022

  U.S. Unemployment Insurance Jump, Likely a Reflection of Omicron

  • Initial claims jumped up 23,000 to 207,000, the highest reading since November 13.
  • This likely reflected the impact of the surge in Omicron Covid cases.
  • Continued claims in regular state programs fell 194,000 to 1.56 million, the lowest reading since 1973.
  • The insured unemployment rate fell to a record low 1.1%.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 12 2022

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rebounded to Start New Year

  • Purchase applications rose while refinancing applications slipped for second week.
  • 30-year mortgage interest rate jumped 18bps to highest since March 2020.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 06 2022

  U.S. Unemployment Insurance Claims Rise Slightly

  • Initial claims edged up but remain below pre-pandemic level.
  • Continued claims in regular state programs down 66% from a year ago.
  • Insured jobless rate unchanged at 1.3%, lowest since 1.2% in March 2020.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 06 2022

  U.S. Factory Orders and Shipments Rose in November

  • Seventh consecutive gain in new orders and largest increase in six months.
  • Shipments rose a more modest 0.7% m/m.
  • Unfilled orders picked up while inventories slowed.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 29 2021

  U.S. Goods Trade Deficit Widens to New Record in November

  • Widely spread decline in exports.
  • Widely spread increase in imports, led by industrial supplies.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 28 2021

  U.S. Gasoline Prices Slipped while Crude and Nat Gas Prices Rose

  • Gasoline prices slipped two cents per gallon for seventh consecutive weekly decline.
  • Crude oil prices rose to highest level in four weeks.
  • Natural gas prices increased for second week.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 23 2021

  U.S. Durable Goods Orders Up Sharply in November

  • November gain in orders led by a rebound in transportation after two monthly declines.
  • Meaningful upward revision to October orders.
  • Core capital goods shipments up 6.5% AR in October/November from Q2.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 22 2021

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

  • GDP growth revised up to 2.3% q/q SAAR from 2.1%.
  • Upward revision to consumption with offsetting small revisions elsewhere.
  • Price inflation revised up to second fastest quarterly rate in 40 years.
  • Rise in Q3 corporate profits revised down to a still-solid 3.4% q/q from 4.3%.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 16 2021

  Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index Unchanged

  • Factory growth was unchanged in December from November.
  • Supplier delivery times slowed sharply from November's record high, but remained elevated.
  • Pace of price increases slowed.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 15 2021

  U.S. Empire State Index Edges Up in December

  • Activity posted solid growth for second consecutive month.
  • Components a little weaker than headline index.
  • Still substantial increases in both input and selling prices though pace of increase slowed.
  • Expectations slip again but components mostly stronger.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 14 2021

  U.S. Small Business Optimism Index Edged Up in November

  • Small Business Optimism edged up 0.2 point in November.
  • Four of the 10 index's components rose, four declined and two were unchanged.
  • A net 59% of small business owners increased prices, the highest level since 1979.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 30 2021

  U.S. Pending Home Sales Rebound in May

  • Rise in May more than offsets decline in April with gains in each region. • Purchases remain constrained by limited supply and rapidly rising prices. Pending home sales rebounded in May, rising 8.0% m/m (+13.1% y/y) following a 4.4% [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief