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

• Global| May 27 2021

  U.S. Unemployment Insurance Claims Continue to Fall

  • Initial state claims fall to yet another pandemic low. • State claims approaching range in which they have fluctuated during more normal times. • PUA claims also fell. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 38,000 in the [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 12 2021

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rise

  • Only the second increase in the past ten weeks. • Increase led by rise in applications for refinancing; applications to purchase posted only a small gain. • Mortgage interest rates fell. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 11 2021

  Housing Affordability Rises in March

  • Incomes boosted in March by another round of government stimulus payments. • Both prices and mortgage rates rise in March. The National Association of Realtors' Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index increased 1.3% in March [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 07 2021

  Wholesale Sales and Inventories Rise Sharply in March

  • Increase in inventories widespread. • Largest monthly increase in sales since last July with upward revisions to February. • With sales outpacing inventories, I/S ratios declined. Wholesale inventories increased 1.3% m/m (4.5% y/y) [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 29 2021

  U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Fell Further

  • Both initial state claims and PUA claims fell to pandemic lows. • Continuing state claims essentially unchanged at pandemic low. • Continuing claims for PUA and PEUC benefits both decline. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 29 2021

  U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Fell Further

  • Both initial state claims and PUA claims fell to pandemic lows. • Continuing state claims essentially unchanged at pandemic low. • Continuing claims for PUA and PEUC benefits both decline. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 22 2021

  U.S. Leading Indicators Rebounded in March

  • Rebound in leading index largest rise since last August. • All 10 components made a positive contribution in March. • Coincident indicators also rebounded in March. The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 15 2021

  U.S. Business Inventories Rose Again in February, Sales Fell

  • Total business sales jump in January. • Total business inventory-to-sales ratio resumes its downward correction. PREVIOUS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Total business inventories rose 0.3% during January (-1.8% y/y) following an upwardly revised [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 15 2021

  U.S. Business Inventories Rose Again in February, Sales Fell

  • Total business sales fell back in February after jump in January. • Total inventories continued to rise. • Total business inventory-to-sales ratio rose in February after outsized fall in January. Total business inventories rose 0.5% [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 15 2021

  U.S. Industrial Production Rebounded in March

  • IP rose 1.4% m/m with manufacturing output up 2.7% and mining up 5.7%. • Utilities plunged 11.4% after the cold-weather boosted 9.2% surge in February. • In the first quarter, IP rose 2.5% saar. Industrial production rebounded in [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Mar 31 2021

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Continued to Decline

  • The decline was the seventh in the past eight weeks. • Applications for both purchases and refinancing fell. • Interest rate on 30-year mortgage edged down; first decline in eight weeks. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  U.S. FHFA House Price Index Continues to Soar in January

  • House prices rose 1.0% m/m, the eighth consecutive monthly increase of 1.0% or more. • Though still elevated, monthly gains seem to be moderating. • Prices were up 12.0% y/y, a series record annual increase dating back to 1991. The [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief