• Gasoline prices unchanged. • Crude oil prices edged up. • Natural gas prices rise to highest level since December 2019. Regular gasoline prices were unchanged at $2.17 per gallon (-16.6% y/y) in the week ended August 17. Prices have [...]
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| Aug 18 2020U.S. Gasoline Prices Steady; Other Energy Prices Edged Up
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Aug 14 2020
U.S. Industrial Production Continues Rebound in July
• Manufacturing output gains were again broad-based in July though smaller than in June. • Even with three monthly gains, total industrial production still 8.4% below pre-Covid peak. • Another strong gain in auto output to nearly pre- [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Aug 12 2020
Mortgage Applications Rebound with Record Low Rates
• Mortgage applications rose 6.8% in week ending August 7. • A 9.1% increase in refinance applications led the increase. Purchase applications were up 2.0%. • Major mortgage interest rates fell to new lows for the history of the [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Aug 05 2020
Mortgage Applications Fall Despite Declining Rates
• Mortgage applications decreased 5.1% in week ending July 31. • Purchase applications off 7.5% from beginning of July, while refinance applications up 9.3%. • 15-year fixed rate mortgage interest rate edged down to 2.83%; 30-year [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 31 2020
Employment Cost Growth Slows in Q2
• Growth of overall compensation slowed to 0.5% q/q in 2020 Q2, slightly below expectations. • Wages and salaries growth accounted for the slowdown while benefits picked up. The employment cost index (ECI) for civilian workers rose [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 23 2020
Kansas City Fed Factory Index Edges Higher in July
• Midwest economic activity increases for the second consecutive month. • New orders and production lead gains with employment turning positive. • Expectations also rise further. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reported that [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 22 2020
U.S. Mortgage Loan Applications Rise with Rates Remaining Low
• Mortgage applications rose for the third consecutive week with both purchase and refinancing applications up. • The 15-year fixed rate mortgage rate edged up slight after having been falling to a record low in the previous week. The [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 15 2020
Empire State Manufacturing Activity Rose in July
Economic activity in New York rose in July for the first time in five months. The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions increased 17.2 in July from -0.2 in June, -48.5 in May and a record low -78.2 in April. [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 14 2020
U.S. Small Businesses Optimism Rebounds Further in June
• NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 6.2 points to 100.6 in June. • Eight out of ten components rose in June, led by a revival in sales expectations. • Respondents continue to be optimistic about future business conditions [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 02 2020
U.S. Trade Deficit Widened Further in May
• The foreign trade deficit in goods and services widened further in May. • Both exports and imports fell in May though by much less than in April. • Trade is on course to subtract meaningfully from Q2 GDP. The U.S. trade deficit in [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 02 2020
U.S. Factory Orders and Shipments Rebounded in May
• Factory orders rebounded in May, rising 8.0% m/m, after meaningful declines in both March and April. • Strong gains in orders for both durable and nondurable goods in May. • Shipments also rebounded in May, but more modestly. U.S. [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 02 2020
U.S. Trade Deficit Widened Further in May
• The foreign trade deficit in goods and services widened further in May. • Both exports and imports fell in May though by much less than in April. • Trade is on course to subtract meaningfully from Q2 GDP. The U.S. trade deficit in [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
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