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

• Global| Jun 24 2021

  U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Edged Down

  • Modest decline from upwardly revised previous week. • Continuing state claims fell to new pandemic low. • PUA claims rose for second consecutive week. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 7,000 in the week ended June 19 to [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 17 2021

  Philly Fed Manufacturing Index Little Changed in June

  • Headline index off recent highs but still quite elevated. • Shipments rose though new orders moderated. • Prices paid increased to highest since 1979. • Hiring plans for next six months rose to near-record high. The Federal Reserve [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 16 2021

  U.S. Import and Export Prices Surged in May

  • May increases significantly exceeded expectations with upward revisions to April. • Highest y/y advance for export prices in series history, led by agricultural prices. • Higher fuel prices a major factor behind rise in import [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 15 2021

  U.S. Producer Prices Rise Further in May

  • May jump led by 1.5% m/m surge in prices of final demand goods. • Y/Y increases in both headline and core indexes highest in series history. • Final demand food prices up 2.6% m/m; energy prices up 2.2% m/m. The Producer Price Index [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 10 2021

  U.S. Unemployment Insurance Claims Continued Their Decline

  • Initial state claims down another 9,000. • Continuing state claims fall to pandemic low. • PUA claims lowest since very first week of program in April 2020. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 9,000 in the week ended June [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 08 2021

  U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed in April

  • Exports rose while imports fell. • Service surplus narrowed further. • Narrowing real deficit points to trade contributing to Q2 GDP growth. The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services narrowed to $68.90 billion in April from a [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Jun 04 2021

  U.S. Factory Orders Retreated in April; Shipments Continued to Rise

  • April retreat less than half March gains. • April shipments added to March surge. • Order backlogs and inventories continued to rise. New orders for manufactured goods fell 0.6% m/m (+34.1% y/y) in April following an upwardly [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 28 2021

  Goods Trade Deficit Narrowed in April Advance Report

  • Foreign trade deficit narrowed for the first time in four months. • Exports rose while imports fell. The advance estimate of the U.S. trade deficit in goods narrowed markedly to $85.23 billion in April from a record $91.98 billion [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 27 2021

  U.S. Unemployment Insurance Claims Continue to Fall

  • Initial state claims fall to yet another pandemic low. • State claims approaching range in which they have fluctuated during more normal times. • PUA claims also fell. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 38,000 in the [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 12 2021

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rise

  • Only the second increase in the past ten weeks. • Increase led by rise in applications for refinancing; applications to purchase posted only a small gain. • Mortgage interest rates fell. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 11 2021

  Housing Affordability Rises in March

  • Incomes boosted in March by another round of government stimulus payments. • Both prices and mortgage rates rise in March. The National Association of Realtors' Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index increased 1.3% in March [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| May 07 2021

  Wholesale Sales and Inventories Rise Sharply in March

  • Increase in inventories widespread. • Largest monthly increase in sales since last July with upward revisions to February. • With sales outpacing inventories, I/S ratios declined. Wholesale inventories increased 1.3% m/m (4.5% y/y) [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief