Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics

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

  • USA    | Apr 01 2026

    U.S. Retail Sales Rebounded in February

    • Total sales increased 0.6% m/m after a 0.1% m/m decline in January
    • Excluding autos, sales increase 0.5% m/m in February after having been unchanged in January.
    • Sales of the retail control group that is used to construct PCE rose 0.5% m/m in February.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Mar 31 2026

    U.S. JOLTS: Openings and Hiring Fell in February

    • Openings fell 4.9% m/m to 6.882 million from an upwardly revised 7.240 million in January.
    • Hiring plummeted 9.3% m/m to 4.849 million, the lowest reading since April 2020.
    • Separations fell 3.4%% m/m to 4.971 million with a decline in Quits and an increase in Layoffs.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Mar 16 2026

    U.S. Industrial Production Edged Up in February

    • Total industrial output increased 0.2% m/m in February, slightly larger than expected.
    • There was no revision to January, but there were small upward revisions to November and December.
    • Manufacturing output increased 0.2% m/m, mining rose 0.8%, while utilities production slid 0.6% m/m.
    • The headline rate of capacity utilization was unchanged in February and remained well below its long-term average.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Mar 13 2026

    U.S. JOLTS: Openings and Hiring Increase in January

    • Openings rose 6.0% m/m to 6.946 million, the highest reading in three months.
    • Hiring edged up 0.4% m/m to 5.294 million, its highest level since last June.
    • Separations fell 1.9% m/m to 5.105 million with declines in both Quits and Layoffs.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Mar 12 2026

    U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed More than Expected in January

    • The deficit in goods and services narrowed to $54.5 billion in January from $72.9 billion in December
    • Exports rebounded, rising 5.5% m/m in January after a 1.6% m/m decline in December.
    • However, 60% of the exported goods rebound was in nonmonetary gold and other precious metals.
    • Imports edged down 0.7% m/m following a 3.5% monthly jump in December.
    • The goods deficit narrowed to $81.8 billion while the services surplus widened slightly to $27.3 billion.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Mar 06 2026

    U.S. Employment Unexpectedly Fell in February

    • Nonfarm payrolls fell 92,000 in February with downward revisions to both December and January
    • Private sector payrolls fell 86,000 in February.
    • Average hourly earnings annual growth increased to 3.8% from 3.7% in both December and January.
    • Unemployment in the household survey increased 203,000, pushing the unemployment rate up to 4.4% from 4.3% in January.
    • The delayed population adjustment to the household data was a very large negative as had been expected given the observed declines in immigration.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Mar 05 2026

    U.S. Productivity Increases More than Expected in Q4

    • Nonfarm business output per hour rose 2.8% q/q SAAR in Q4 on top of an upward revision to Q3.
    • Compensation jumped 5.7% q/q in Q4 resulting in a 2.8% quarterly increase in unit labor costs.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Feb 19 2026

    U.S. Trade Deficit Widened Much More Than Expected in December

    • The overall deficit widened to $70.3 billion in December from $53.0 billion in November.
    • The goods deficit widened markedly to $99.3 billion from $83.6 billion in November.
    • The services surplus narrowed slightly to $29.0 billion from $30.6 billion in November.
    • Exports fell 1.7% m/m on top of a 3.4% monthly decline in November while imports rose 3.6% m/m following a 4.2% gain in November.
    • For all of Q4, the real goods trade balance narrowed, suggesting that trade contributed to overall GDP growth.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Feb 18 2026

    U.S. Industrial Production Jumped in January

    • Total industrial output increased a larger-than-expected 0.7% m/m in January.
    • However, there were meaningful downward revisions to the previous two months.
    • Manufacturing output increased 0.6% m/m, mining declined 0.2% m/m, and utilities production jumped 2.1% m/m.
    • Rates of capacity utilization edged up in January but remained well below their long-term averages.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Feb 17 2026

    FRBNY Empire State Manufacturing Index Slipped Slightly in February

    • The headline index edged down to 7.1 from 7.7 in January but continued to point to expansion.
    • New orders slowed slightly while shipments plunged 17 points into negative territory.
    • Prices paid and received both rebounded in February.
    • Expected capital expenditures rose to a three-year high.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Feb 10 2026

    U.S. Import and Export Prices Rise in December

    • Import prices rose 0.1% m/m in December, in line with expectations.
    • The December increase reflected a 0.2% monthly gain in non-fuel import prices and a 0.8% m/m decline in fuel prices.
    • Export prices rose 0.3% m/m against expectations of a 0.1% m/m increase. Both agricultural and nonagricultural prices rose in December.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Feb 05 2026

    U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Surged in Latest Week

    • New claims jumped 22,000 to 231,000, the highest level since December 6.
    • Continuing claims rose to 1.844 million from 1.819 million.

    by:Sandy Batten

    |in:Economy in Brief