• Exports up 2.6% m/m while imports edged up just 0.5%. • Exports led by jump in soybean shipments; slowdown in imports due mostly to softer imports of consumer goods and petroleum. The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services [...]
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
Global| Nov 04 2020U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed in September
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 03 2020
U.S. Natural Gas Prices Continue to Rise; Oil Down Sharply; Gasoline Little Changed
• Natural gas prices rose further as seasonal demand increased and supply tightened. • Energy product demand declined while inventories rose. Natural gas prices posted another marked weekly increase in the week ended October 30, [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Oct 30 2020
U.S. Personal Income and Spending Stronger than Expected in September
• Gains in income from private sector offset decreased unemployment insurance payments. • Spending continued to strengthen, still led by spending on goods. • Price inflation edged up but remained well below Fed's target. Personal [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Oct 29 2020
Massive Rebound in Q3 GDP but Still Has Further to Go
• After record decline in Q2, GDP posted record increase in Q3. • Led by rebounds in consumption and fixed investment. • But level of GDP still 3.5% below previous peak level. • Prices bounce back after having declined in Q2. U.S. GDP [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Oct 28 2020
U.S. Mortgage Applications Rebound as Rates Slip
• Led by 2.5% w/w jump in refinancing applications. • Purchase applications were essentially unchanged. • Fixed mortgage interest rates generally declined with the Jumbo rate falling to a new record low. The Mortgage Bankers [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Oct 27 2020
U.S. FHFA House Price Index Posts Record Monthly Increase
• FHFA home price index jumped up 1.5% m/m, a record dating back to 1991. • Prices up 8.0% y/y, the fastest annual pace of increase since 2006. • Significant monthly price gains across the country. The Federal Housing Finance Agency [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Oct 15 2020
Empire State Manufacturing Slows in October
Economic activity in New York slowed more than the markets had expected in October with the Empire State General Business Conditions Index slipping to 10.5 after having jumped up to 17.0 in September. This was the fourth consecutive [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Oct 06 2020
U.S. Trade Deficit Widened Further in August
• Both exports and imports increase. • Real trade balance also widened, points to meaningful drag on Q3 GDP. The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened further in August to $67.1 billion from $63.4 billion in July (revised [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 30 2020
U.S. Pending Home Sales Climb Again
• Pending home sales rise to record high in August. • Fourth consecutive monthly gain; sales rise in all four major regions. • Record highs in Midwest and South. Pending home sales rose for the fourth consecutive month in August, [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 30 2020
U.S. Pending Home Sales Climb Again
• Pending home sales rise to record high in August. • Fourth consecutive monthly gain; sales rise in all four major regions. • Record highs in Midwest and South. Pending home sales rose for the fourth consecutive month in August, [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 30 2020
Mortgage Applications Fell Along with Rates
• Both purchase and refinancing applications fell. • Mortgage interest rates generally fell with the 30-year Jumbo rate falling to a new record low. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan Applications Index fell 4.8% w/w [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 29 2020
U.S. Energy Prices Were Mixed
• Gasoline prices were unchanged. • Crude oil prices edged up. • Natural gas prices tumbled again. Regular gasoline prices were unchanged at $2.17 per gallon (-17.9% y/y) in the week ended September 28. Haver Analytics adjusts the [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
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