- Exports rose for third consecutive month while imports fell after outsized gain in March.
- April deficit well below Q1 average, auguring for trade to contribute to Q2 GDP growth.
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| May 27 2022
U.S. Advance Trade Deficit Narrowed Markedly in April
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| May 19 2022
U.S. Index of Leading Indicators Fell in April
- Decline led by weak building permits and falling consumer expectations.
- Coincident indicators continued to rise.
- Lagging indicators slowed.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| May 17 2022
U.S. Industrial Production Much Stronger than Expected in April
- Solid increase in all three major categories.
- Manufacturing increase led by motor vehicles.
- Capacity utilization strengthens to highest level since December 2018.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| May 17 2022
U.S. Retail Sales Posted Solid Rise in April
- Slightly stronger-than-expected gain with significant upward revisions.
- Strong start to Q2 with April sales 10% annualized above Q1 average.
- Solid increases across many major categories.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| May 11 2022
U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose for Second Week
- Total applications increased 2.0%.
- Loans to purchase a house rose 4.5% while refinance loans fell 2.0%.
- Mortgage interest rates resumed their uptrend.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| May 06 2022
Another Record Monthly Increase in U.S. Consumer Credit
- Led by record increase in revolving credit balances.
- Rise in nonrevolving credit usage slowed slightly.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| May 05 2022
U.S. Unemployment Claims Increased in Latest Week
- Initial claims rose 19,000 to 200,000.
- Continued weeks claimed fell further to lowest since January 1970.
- Insured unemployment rate retained record low of 1.0%.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Apr 28 2022
FRB Kansas City Manufacturing Index Slips But Remains Elevated
- April decline led by orders and shipments.
- Expected conditions also fell, for the first time in four months.
- Inflation indicators continued to rise.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Apr 28 2022
U.S. Unemployment Claims Fall
- Initial claims fell 5,000 to 180,000.
- Continued weeks claimed also eased to lowest in more than 50 years.
- Insured unemployment rate retained record low of 1.0%.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Apr 27 2022
U.S. Mortgage Applications Fall for Seventh Straight Week
- Largest weekly decline since mid-February.
- Meaningful declines in both purchase and refinancing applications.
- Mortgage interest rates post significant weekly increases with 30-year rate rising to highest since mid-2009.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Apr 14 2022
U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Rose in Most Recent Week
- Despite weekly increase, claims still around 50-year low.
- Continued weeks claimed edged down to lowest level since March 1970.
- Insured unemployment rate holds at record low.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- USA| Apr 13 2022
U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined for Fifth Consecutive Week
- Lowest level for total applications since March 2019.
- Sharp decline in refinancing applications continued; purchase applications rose.
- Rise in mortgage interest rates accelerated.
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- of53Go to 16 page