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| Dec 29 2021

  U.S. Goods Trade Deficit Widens to New Record in November

  • Widely spread decline in exports.
  • Widely spread increase in imports, led by industrial supplies.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 28 2021

  U.S. Gasoline Prices Slipped while Crude and Nat Gas Prices Rose

  • Gasoline prices slipped two cents per gallon for seventh consecutive weekly decline.
  • Crude oil prices rose to highest level in four weeks.
  • Natural gas prices increased for second week.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 23 2021

  U.S. Durable Goods Orders Up Sharply in November

  • November gain in orders led by a rebound in transportation after two monthly declines.
  • Meaningful upward revision to October orders.
  • Core capital goods shipments up 6.5% AR in October/November from Q2.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 22 2021

  U.S. Q3 GDP Growth Revised Up in Third Estimate

  • GDP growth revised up to 2.3% q/q SAAR from 2.1%.
  • Upward revision to consumption with offsetting small revisions elsewhere.
  • Price inflation revised up to second fastest quarterly rate in 40 years.
  • Rise in Q3 corporate profits revised down to a still-solid 3.4% q/q from 4.3%.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 16 2021

  Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index Unchanged

  • Factory growth was unchanged in December from November.
  • Supplier delivery times slowed sharply from November's record high, but remained elevated.
  • Pace of price increases slowed.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 15 2021

  U.S. Empire State Index Edges Up in December

  • Activity posted solid growth for second consecutive month.
  • Components a little weaker than headline index.
  • Still substantial increases in both input and selling prices though pace of increase slowed.
  • Expectations slip again but components mostly stronger.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Dec 14 2021

  U.S. Small Business Optimism Index Edged Up in November

  • Small Business Optimism edged up 0.2 point in November.
  • Four of the 10 index's components rose, four declined and two were unchanged.
  • A net 59% of small business owners increased prices, the highest level since 1979.

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 30 2021

  U.S. Pending Home Sales Rebound in May

  • Rise in May more than offsets decline in April with gains in each region. • Purchases remain constrained by limited supply and rapidly rising prices. Pending home sales rebounded in May, rising 8.0% m/m (+13.1% y/y) following a 4.4% [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 30 2021

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Slumped

  • Total application volume fell to lowest level since January 2020. • Applications for both purchase and refinance declined. • Rates on fixed-rate mortgages generally edged down, rates on adjustable-rate loans jumped. The Mortgage [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 29 2021

  U.S. Energy Prices Generally Rise

  • Gasoline prices hit nearly seven-year high. • Crude oil prices add to recent gains. • Natural gas prices unchanged. Retail gasoline prices rose to $3.09 per gallon (+42.2% y/y) in the week ended June 28, the highest price since [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 29 2021

  U.S. Energy Prices Generally Rise

  • Gasoline prices hit nearly seven-year high. • Crude oil prices add to recent gains. • Natural gas prices unchanged. Retail gasoline prices rose to $3.09 per gallon (+42.2% y/y) in the week ended June 28, the highest price since [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 24 2021

  U.S. Goods Trade Deficit Widened in May

  • Exports fell while imports rose. • Still, foreign trade on course to contribute to overall GDP growth in Q2. The advance estimate of the U.S. trade deficit in goods widened to $88.1 billion in May from $85.7 billion in April. The [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief