The Composite Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo edged up to 65 in July from 64 in June, reversing half of its June decline. Compared with a year ago, the index is 3 points lower and [...]
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| Jul 16 2019U.S. Home Builder Sentiment Edges Up in July
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 16 2019
U.S. Import and Export Prices Decline in June
Import prices fell 0.9% (-2.0% y/y) in June following an upwardly revised unchanged reading in May (initially reported as a 0.3% m/m decline). The June decline was larger than the 0.6% m/m decline expected in the Action Economics [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 09 2019
U.S. Gasoline Prices Rose Again While Oil Prices Declined
After falling for seven consecutive weeks, U.S. retail gasoline prices increased for the second consecutive week in the week ended July 8, rising to $2.74 per gallon (-4.0% y/y) from $2.71 in the previous week. Haver Analytics adjusts [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jul 03 2019
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens More Than Expected in May
The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened more than expected in May to $55.5 billion from an upwardly revised $51.2 billion in April (originally $50.8 billion). The consensus expectation from the Action Economics Survey was [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 27 2019
U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Rise, But Not Meaningfully
Initial unemployment insurance claims decreased to 216,000 in the week ended June 15 Continuing claims for unemployment insurance also decreased, to 1.662 million in the week ending June 8 Initial unemployment insurance claims [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 27 2019
U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Rise, But Not Meaningfully
Initial unemployment insurance claims increased 10,000 to 227,000 in the week ended June 22 from a slightly upwardly revised 217,000 (originally 216,000) the previous week. Claims continue to fluctuate around their lowest level in 50 [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 25 2019
U.S. FHFA House Price Index Trend Shows Signs of Stabilizing
The y/y rate of advance in the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Price Index for house purchases showed signs of stabilizing in April. The y/y pace had slowed in each month since last June, but in April it picked up (albeit only [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 25 2019
U.S. Energy Product Prices Mixed in Latest Week
U.S. retail gasoline prices fell for the seventh consecutive week, edging down to $2.65 (-6.3% y/y) per gallon during the week ended June 24 from $2.67 the previous week. Haver Analytics calculates factors that adjust for the seasonal [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 19 2019
FOMC Leaves the Funds Rate Unchanged But Signals Cuts Soon
The Federal Open Market Committee voted at today's meeting to leave the federal funds rate target in a range between 2.25% and 2.50%. The action was as expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. However, there was one [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 11 2019
U.S. Gasoline Prices Fall Further; WTI Prices Drop into Bear Market
U.S. retail gasoline prices continued to fall in the week ended June 10, declining seven cents to $2.73 per gallon (-6.1% y/y) for their fifth consecutive weekly decline. Haver Analytics calculates factors that adjust for the seasonal [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 06 2019
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens More Than Expected in May
The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened more than expected in May to $55.5 billion from an upwardly revised $51.2 billion in April (originally $50.8 billion). The consensus expectation from the Action Economics Survey was [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Jun 06 2019
U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Unchanged
The labor market remains historically quite robust. Initial claims for unemployment insurance were unchanged at 218,000 in week ended June 1 (the previous week’s reading was revised up slightly from 215,000) and remain around their [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
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