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| Dec 15 2020

  Energy Prices Remain Elevated

  • Gasoline prices unchanged at nine-week high. • Crude oil prices rise again to highest level since February. • Natural gas prices ease but are trending higher. The price of regular gasoline was unchanged at $2.16 per gallon (-14.9% [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 30 2020

  Pending Home Sales Fell Again in October

  • Second monthly decline in pending home sales after four consecutive monthly increases. • Sales drop concentrated in Northeast. Pending home sales fell 1.1% m/m (+20.2% y/y) in October, their second consecutive monthly decline [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 25 2020

  U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rise Further in October

  • Orders again surprise to upside in October with upward revision to September. • Sixth consecutive monthly increase in orders. • Shipments jumped; inventories rose; order backlogs eased. Manufacturers' orders for durable goods [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 25 2020

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rebound

  • Mortgage applications rebound following two weeks of decline. • Applications for both purchase and refinancing post marked increases. • Fixed mortgage rates fall to new all-time lows. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 24 2020

  U.S. Energy Prices Mixed

  • Crude oil price increased. • Natural gas price tumbled. • Gasoline price little changed. The price for a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased to an average of $41.62 (-27.0% y/y) in the week ended November 20 from [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 19 2020

  Manufacturing Activity in Kansas City Fed District Slows in November

  • Growth continued though at a slower pace than in October. • Increases in orders, production and employment slowed. • Expectations for six months ahead also ebbed slightly. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reported that its [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 17 2020

  U.S. Industrial Production Rebounded in October

  • Industrial production increased 1.1% in October with upward revisions to both August and September. Still, production is 5.6% below its pre-pandemic February level.• Manufacturing led the rebound, rising 1.0% in October with upward [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 04 2020

  U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed in September

  • Exports up 2.6% m/m while imports edged up just 0.5%. • Exports led by jump in soybean shipments; slowdown in imports due mostly to softer imports of consumer goods and petroleum. The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Nov 03 2020

  U.S. Natural Gas Prices Continue to Rise; Oil Down Sharply; Gasoline Little Changed

  • Natural gas prices rose further as seasonal demand increased and supply tightened. • Energy product demand declined while inventories rose. Natural gas prices posted another marked weekly increase in the week ended October 30, [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 30 2020

  U.S. Personal Income and Spending Stronger than Expected in September

  • Gains in income from private sector offset decreased unemployment insurance payments. • Spending continued to strengthen, still led by spending on goods. • Price inflation edged up but remained well below Fed's target. Personal [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 29 2020

  Massive Rebound in Q3 GDP but Still Has Further to Go

  • After record decline in Q2, GDP posted record increase in Q3. • Led by rebounds in consumption and fixed investment. • But level of GDP still 3.5% below previous peak level. • Prices bounce back after having declined in Q2. U.S. GDP [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief
• Global| Oct 28 2020

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rebound as Rates Slip

  • Led by 2.5% w/w jump in refinancing applications. • Purchase applications were essentially unchanged. • Fixed mortgage interest rates generally declined with the Jumbo rate falling to a new record low. The Mortgage Bankers [...]

  by:Sandy Batten

  |in:Economy in Brief