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

• 

  USA| Feb 28 2023

  U.S. Advance Trade Deficit Widened Further in January

  • $91.5 billion deficit in January, slightly larger than expected.
  • Exports rebounded 4.2% m/m, first increase in five months.
  • Imports increased 3.4% m/m, fourth increase in past five months.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 27 2023

  U.S. Durable Goods Orders in January Dragged Down by Nondefense Aircraft

  • January was the mirror image of December.
  • Total orders slumped 4.5% m/m but rose 0.8% m/m when subtracting nondefense aircraft.
  • Nondefense aircraft orders plummeted 54.6% m/m after 105.6% surge in December.
  • Both core capital goods orders and shipments rebounded.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 16 2023

  U.S. Producer Prices Surprise to Upside in January

  • Much larger-than-expected 0.7% m/m increase in the headline index.
  • Good prices rebounded sharply; services prices posted same rise as in December.
  • Headline and core annual rates fell further to slowest pace since March 2021.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 15 2023

  The Decline in Empire State Manufacturing Activity Slowed in February

  • The headline index rose 27 points but remained in negative territory.
  • New orders continued to fall while shipments eked out a small gain.
  • Delivery times fell further but prices paid rebounded.
  • Expectations improved for the third consecutive month.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 15 2023

  U.S. Business Inventories Increased in December while Sales Fell

  • Inventories continued to increase. • Sales posted second consecutive decline. • Inventory-to-sales ratio rose to highest in more than two years.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 07 2023

  U.S. Energy Prices Fell Across All Major Products

  • Gasoline prices declined for the first time in six weeks.
  • Crude oil prices first weekly decline in four weeks.
  • Natural gas prices decreased for the seventh consecutive week.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 01 2023

  U.S. Job Openings Unexpectedly Increased in December

  • The number of job openings rose to above 11 million.
  • New hires rebounded.
  • Layoffs and discharges increased up but remain historically low.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 26 2023

  Surge in Nondefense Aircraft Orders Push Up U.S. Durable Goods Orders in December

  • Total orders jumped 5.6% m/m but fell 0.1% m/m when subtracting nondefense aircraft.
  • Nondefense aircraft soared 115% m/m.
  • Both core capital goods orders and shipments fell.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 26 2023

  Chicago Fed National Activity Index Inched Up in December

  • But the index remained below zero for the second consecutive month.
  • Three-month average weakened toward recession territory.
  • Activity/employment dichotomy clearly visible.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 18 2023

  U.S. Producer Prices Fell in December

  • The first monthly decline in four months.

  • Decline concentrated in goods prices; services prices ticked up.

  • Headline and core annual rates slowed to slowest pace since March 2021.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 18 2023

  U.S. Business Inventories Rose While Sales Fell in November

  • Inventories continued to increase.
  • Sales posted first decline since July.
  • Inventory-to-sales ratio rose to highest in nearly two years.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Jan 06 2023

  U.S. Factory Orders and Shipments Fell in November

  • New orders fell 1.8% m/m in November after three consecutive monthly gains with a downward revision to October.

  • Shipments declined 0.6% m/m following three consecutive monthly increases.

  • Unfilled orders and inventories were essentially unchanged in November.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief