Durable goods orders were little changed in November (+1.2%y/y) following a 2.9%m/m jump in October (revised down slightly from the initially reported 3.0%m/m rise). Action Economics' Forecast Survey had anticipated a 0.7%m/m decline. [...]
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| Dec 23 2015U.S. Durable Goods Orders Little Changed in November
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 22 2015
U.S. Existing Home Sales in November Hit by New Regulations
The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales slumped 10.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 4.76 million homes. This was the lowest level of sales since April 2014. All four major [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 25 2015
Durable Goods Orders Rebound More Strongly Than Expected in October
Durable goods orders started the third quarter strongly, jumping up 3.0%/m (0.5% y/y) in October against an expectation (Action Economics Forecast Survey) of a 1.5% m/m increase. And the 1.2% m/m decline initially reported for orders [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 25 2015
US Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Fall Unexpectedly
Initial claims for unemployment insurance unexpectedly fell to 260,000 in the week ending November 21 from a slightly upwardly revised 272,000 the previous week. The Action Economics Forecast Survey had looked for an unchanged reading [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Nov 22 2015
Philadelphia Fed Nonmanufacturing Business Index Slips Slightly in November, but Details Brighter
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Nonmanufacturing Business Index of current conditions slipped a bit in November to 15.6 from 16.3 in October. This was the fourth consecutive monthly decline and the lowest level since July [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 30 2015
Chicago Business Barometer Slumped in September
The Chicago Business Barometer plummeted to 48.7 in September from 54.4 in August. This is lowest reading since May 2015 and was led by sharp declines in production and new orders. The drop in the index to below 50 points to a [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 29 2015
U.S. Consumer Confidence Adds to Gains in September
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index in September unexpectedly added to its outsized August gains. The overall index rose 1.7% in September from August to 103.0 on top of a 11.3%m/m jump in August. The September reading [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 09 2015
2Q U.S. Quarterly Services Survey: Real Estate Strong, Utilities Weak
The Quarterly Services Survey is the most timely and comprehensive measure of economic activity in the U.S. service sector. It is conducted by the Census Bureau and covers 5,000 service businesses with paid employees. The Bureau of [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 08 2015
NFIB Survey Shows Strong Labor Markets But Modest Activity
The National Federation of Independent Business reported that the small business outlook was little changed in August. Its Small Business Optimism Index edged up to 95.9 in August from 95.4 in July, but remains below the 96.8 average [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 04 2014
U.S. ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Shows Further Strength
The pace of nonmanufacturing activity continued to accelerate in August with the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) composite nonmanufacturing index rising to 59.6 from 58.7 in July. This is a diffusion index with a reading above [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 03 2014
U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Soar to 103-month High in August
According to the Autodata Corporation, sales of light vehicles soared in August, jumping up to a much larger-than-expected 17.53 million units (SAAR) from 16.48 million in July. Increased automaker incentives interacted with a [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Sep 02 2014
U.S. ISM Manufacturing Index Continues to Climb in August
The U.S. manufacturing sector continued its solid rebound as the Institute for Supply Management's index of manufacturing sector activity jumped to 59.0 in August from 57.1 in July and 55.3 in June. The August move was much larger [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
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