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| Oct 31 2018

  Jump in Wages Boosts U.S. Employment Costs in Q3

  The employment cost index for civilian workers rose 0.8% q/q (2.8% y/y) in the third quarter of 2018, up from a 0.6% q/q rise in the second. Action Economics Forecast Survey had looked for a 0.7% q/q increase. Employment costs in the [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 19 2018

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  The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes during September declined 3.4% to 5.150 million (SAAR, -4.1%). The data on existing home sales, prices and affordability are compiled by the National [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 05 2018

  U.S. Trade Deficit Widens for Third Consecutive Month in August

  The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened to $53.24 billion in August from a slightly downwardly revised $50.04 billion in July. This was the widest deficit since February and in line with the advance trade report. A [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 03 2018

  U.S. Mortgage Loan Applications Increase Along With Interest Rates

  The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Index rose 2.9% last week .......... The survey covers over 75% of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications and has been conducted weekly since [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 03 2018

  U.S. ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Jumped Up in September

  The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) jumped up to 61.6 in September from 58.5 during August. This is the second highest reading in the history of the series dating back [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 03 2018

  U.S. ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Jumped Up in September

  The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) jumped up to 61.6 in September from 58.5 during August. This is the second highest reading in the history of the series dating back [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 03 2018

  U.S. Mortgage Loan Applications Unchanged at End of September

  The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Index was unchanged (-14.8% y/y) in the week ending September 28 following a 2.9% w/w increase in the preceding week. Purchase loan applications edged up [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Sep 28 2018

  Chicago Purchasing Managers Index and Prices Paid Component Ease

  Personal consumption expenditures rose 0.4% (5.2% y/y) in July............ The 0.3% increase in personal income......... The personal income & consumption figures are available in Haver's USECON database with detail in the USNA [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Sep 28 2018

  U.S. Personal Spending and Income Post Solid Gains in August

  Personal consumption expenditures rose 0.3% (5.3% y/y) in August following an upwardly revised 0.5% m/m gain in July. Personal income also rose 0.3% m/m (4.7% y/y) in August, the same monthly increase as in July. The Action Economics [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Sep 14 2018

  U.S. Industrial Production Posted Solid Increase in August

  Industrial production increased a solid 0.4% m/m (4.8% y/y) in August and the modest 0.1% m/m rise initially reported for July was revised up to a 0.4% m/m gain. The consensus from the Action Economics Survey had looked for a 0.3% m/m [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Sep 11 2018

  Wholesale Inventories Jumped in July While Sales Floundered

  Wholesale inventories jumped 0.6% m/m (5.0% y/y) in July following an unrevised 0.1% m/m increase in June. The July increase is a little smaller than expected--the Informa Global Markets Survey had looked for a 0.7% m/m increase. [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Aug 15 2018

  U.S. Industrial Production Softer in July on Weaker Utilities Output

  Industrial production edged up 0.1% m/m (4.2% y/y) in July but the 0.6% m/m rise initially reported for June was revised up to a sturdy 1.0% m/m increase. The consensus from the Action Economics Survey had looked for a 0.3% m/m gain. [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief