- IP rebounded 0.8% m/m in August with downward revisions to June and July.
- Swing in auto production major factor; motor vehicle output soared 9.8% m/m in August after an 8.9% m/m collapse in July.
- Mining output also rebounded in August while utilities output was unchanged.
Introducing
Sandy Batten
in:Our Authors
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
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Sep 04 2024
U.S. Factory Orders Rebound in July
- Total orders rose 5.0% m/m in July after a 3.3% decline in June.
- Aircraft orders surged more than 4385% after having plummeted in June.
- Total shipments increased 0.9% m/m.
- Unfilled orders rose 0.2% m/m; inventories edged up 0.1% m/m.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Sep 04 2024
U.S. International Trade Deficit Widens in July
- Trade deficit widened to $78.8 billion in July, the widest since June 2022.
- The goods deficit widened to $103.1 billion while the services surplus narrowed slightly to $24.3 billion.
- Exports edged up 0.5% m/m while imports jumped 2.1% m/m.
- The real deficit widened further, indicating that net exports may be a further drag on GDP growth in Q3.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Aug 29 2024
Q2 2024 U.S. GDP Revised Up in Second Estimate
- GDP grew 3.0% q/q SAAR in Q2, up from 2.8% in the advance report.
- The upward revision was due completely to an upward revision to PCE growth.
- All other major expenditure components were revised slightly weaker.
- Corporate profits rebounded in Q2, rising 1.7% q/q after falling 1.4% in Q1.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Aug 27 2024
Consumer Confidence Rises Slightly in August
- The overall index increased more than expected to 103.3, its highest reading since February.
- Both the present situation and the expectations indexes rose.
- Labor market indicators continued to decline.
- Inflation expectations fell to lowest since March 2020.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- The index rose to -3 from -13, indicating that the pace of decline had slowed.
- Expectations for future activity remained positive, rising in August from July.
- The production index increased to 6, the first positive reading in six months.
- All other major components of the headline index improved in August but remained at zero or below.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Index increase slightly to -4.7 but remained in negative territory for ninth consecutive month.
- Haver calculated ISM-type index also remained in contraction territory.
- New orders still negative while shipments were positive for third straight month.
- Employment indicators still weak.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Aug 15 2024
Philly Fed Manufacturing Index Falls Markedly in August
- The headline index unexpectedly slumped to -7.0 in August from 13.9 in July.
- The first negative reading since January.
- However, the ISM PMI version calculated by Haver remained above 50 at 52.5.
- Employment fell to back below zero.
- Expectations also fell markedly.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Aug 15 2024
U.S. Import and Export Prices Rose in July
- Slight rise in import prices led by jump in imported food prices.
- Imported fuel prices rose 0.5% after a 1.9% decline in June.
- Larger-than-expected increase in export prices due mostly to 2.2% surge in prices of exported industrial supplies.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Aug 01 2024
Q2 U.S. Productivity Increased More Than Expected
- Output per hour rose 2.3% saar in Q2 vs. 0.4% in Q1.
- Compensation growth slowed more than expected.
- So did unit labor costs—to 0.9% saar.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Jul 18 2024
Philly Fed Manufacturing Index Jumps in July
- The headline index jumped to 13.9 in July from 1.3 in June.
- Jump led by surges in new orders and shipments.
- The ISM PMI version calculated by Haver jumped to 54.9, the first move above the critical 50 level since August 2022.
- Employment surged above zero for the first time in nine months.
- Expectations rebounded to the highest reading since July 2021.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Jul 17 2024
U.S. Industrial Production Surprises to Upside in June
- Total IP increased 0.6% m/m in June with upward revisions to both April and May.
- Manufacturing output rose 0.4% m/m with a marked upward revision to May.
- A 2.8% m/m in utilities production also provided a significant boost in June.
- Capacity utilization increased to 78.8%, its highest reading since last September.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
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