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| Apr 29 2021

  U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Fell Further

  • Both initial state claims and PUA claims fell to pandemic lows. • Continuing state claims essentially unchanged at pandemic low. • Continuing claims for PUA and PEUC benefits both decline. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Fell Further

  • Both initial state claims and PUA claims fell to pandemic lows. • Continuing state claims essentially unchanged at pandemic low. • Continuing claims for PUA and PEUC benefits both decline. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Apr 22 2021

  U.S. Leading Indicators Rebounded in March

  • Rebound in leading index largest rise since last August. • All 10 components made a positive contribution in March. • Coincident indicators also rebounded in March. The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  U.S. Business Inventories Rose Again in February, Sales Fell

  • Total business sales jump in January. • Total business inventory-to-sales ratio resumes its downward correction. PREVIOUS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Total business inventories rose 0.3% during January (-1.8% y/y) following an upwardly revised [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  U.S. Business Inventories Rose Again in February, Sales Fell

  • Total business sales fell back in February after jump in January. • Total inventories continued to rise. • Total business inventory-to-sales ratio rose in February after outsized fall in January. Total business inventories rose 0.5% [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  U.S. Industrial Production Rebounded in March

  • IP rose 1.4% m/m with manufacturing output up 2.7% and mining up 5.7%. • Utilities plunged 11.4% after the cold-weather boosted 9.2% surge in February. • In the first quarter, IP rose 2.5% saar. Industrial production rebounded in [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Mar 31 2021

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Continued to Decline

  • The decline was the seventh in the past eight weeks. • Applications for both purchases and refinancing fell. • Interest rate on 30-year mortgage edged down; first decline in eight weeks. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  U.S. FHFA House Price Index Continues to Soar in January

  • House prices rose 1.0% m/m, the eighth consecutive monthly increase of 1.0% or more. • Though still elevated, monthly gains seem to be moderating. • Prices were up 12.0% y/y, a series record annual increase dating back to 1991. The [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Mar 23 2021

  U.S. Energy Gasoline Prices Rose Further; Oil and Nat Gas Edged Down

  • Gasoline prices continued their rise, posting highest price since April 2019. • Crude oil prices edged down for second week in past three. • Natural gas prices fell for fourth consecutive week. The price of regular gasoline [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  TT

  • PREVIOUS>>>>>>>>>>>>> Import prices increased a larger-than-expected 1.4% m/m (0.9% y/y) in January Export prices jumped up 2.5% m/m (2.3% y/y) in January The import and export price series can be found in Haver's USECON database. [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

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

  U.S. Import and Export Prices Rise Further in February

  • Import prices rose 1.3% in February with imported fuel prices up 11.1%. • Annual increase in nonfuel import prices highest since January 2012. • Export prices increased 1.6%. Annual increase highest since June 2018. Import prices [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Mar 03 2021

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Edge Up

  • Purchase loan applications rise; refinancing applications essentially unchanged. • Mortgage interest rates rise further along with other market rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan Applications Index edged up 0.5% [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief