• Decline led by drop in applications for refinancing. • Mortgage interest rates mostly fell further to new record lows. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan Applications Index fell 4.2% in the last two weeks of 2020. The [...]
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
Global| Jan 06 2021U.S. Mortgage Applications Fell Over Last Two Weeks of 2020
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 30 2020
Chicago PMI Rises in December
• Business activity index rises in December after falling to three-month low in November. • Production, order backlogs, employment and inventories gain. • New orders slide. The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer rebounded [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 30 2020
Trade Deficit Widens in November
• Widening much larger than expected. • Net exports to be drag on overall GDP growth in Q4. • Export growth slows while import gain accelerates. The advance estimate of the U.S. trade deficit in goods widened to $84.8 billion in [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 29 2020
Energy Prices Little Changed in Christmas Week
• • • These data are reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. The price data can be found in Haver's WEEKLY and DAILY databases. Greater detail on prices, as well as the demand, production and inventory data, along with regional [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 29 2020
Energy Prices Little Changed in Christmas Week
• Gasoline prices edged up two cents. • Crude oil prices fell 17 cents. • Natural gas prices slipped three cents. The price of regular gasoline edged up to $2.24 per gallon (-12.8% y/y) in the week ended December 28 from $2.22 per [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 28 2020
Texas Manufacturing Activity Strengthens in December
• Headline index of general business conditions slipped for second month. • However, subindexes pointed to a meaningful pickup in activity. • Expectations index also eased. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported that its Texas [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 23 2020
U.S. Durable Goods Orders Continue to Rise
• Orders again surprise to upside in November with upward revision to October. • Seventh consecutive monthly increase in orders. • Shipments rose; inventories jumped; order backlogs eased. Manufacturers' orders for durable goods [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 23 2020
U.S. Mortgage Applications Edge Up from Refinancing
• Mortgage applications rose only marginally. • Decline in purchase applications offset by increase in refinancing. • Mortgage interest rates mostly lower. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan Applications Index edged up [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 22 2020
Energy Prices Continue to Rise
• Gasoline prices rose to highest since mid-March. • Crude oil prices rise again to highest level since February. • Natural gas prices rebound. The price of regular gasoline was rose to $2.22 per gallon (-12.2% y/y) in the week ended [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 17 2020
Philly Fed Index Points to Significant Slowdown in December
• Headline index falls 15 points to lowest level since spring low. • Component declines are broad-based. • Expectations mixed. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 16 2020
U.S. Mortgage Applications Rebound as Rates Fall to Record Low
• Mortgage applications rise moderately. • Mortgage interest rates decline to another survey low. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan Applications Index rebounded modestly in the week ended December 11, rising 1.1% w/w [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 15 2020
Empire State Manufacturing Index Slips in December but Components Stronger
• The headline index eased slightly. • However, components were stronger, showing a slight improvement in activity. • Employment posted its strongest performance in months. The Empire State General Business Conditions Index edged [...]
by:Sandy Batten
|in:Economy in Brief
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